FLORENCE, SC – Senior Quentin Davis and sophomore Michael Ward combined for 10 hits and 12 runs batted in to lead Francis Marion University to a lopsided doubleheader sweep of Alderson-Broaddus College, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 5) as both squads opened their 2005 campaigns.

FMU scored four runs in its first at bat of 2005 as the Patriots cruised to a 10-4 win in game one.  In the second contest, Francis Marion broke open a 5-4 game by scoring 10 unanswered runs en route to a 15-4 victory.

Davis collected three hits in the opener and drove in three runs, while Ward was three-for-five with a two-run triple.  The Patriots banged out 15 hits and took advantage of five walks by Alderson-Broaddus pitchers and two Battlers’ errors.  Freshman Dylan Owen came in from the Patriot bullpen and picked up his first collegiate win.  He allowed only three hits and one run over the final five innings.

Alderson-Broaddus starter Chad Southern (0-1) was tagged with the loss.  Second baseman Tommy Cohen drove in two of the Battlers’ four runs and scored the other two.

In the second game, Ward was a perfect three-for-three with four RBIs and two runs scored.  Davis made the most of his one-for-four performance by driving

in three runs.  Junior shortstop Jason Weaver also had three hits in game two, and drove in a pair of runs.  FMU bettered its game-one attack by pounding out 17 hits.

Senior Chas Dobes (1-0) pitched six innings, allowing only two earned runs on five hits, while striking out four.

Senior lefty Rossi Gaudio (0-1) took the loss for Alderson-Broaddus.  Freshman Alan Baumann led the Battlers in game two with two hits and a pair of runs scored.

FMU took advantage of some early-season Alderson-Broaddus deficiencies, stealing nine bases in nine attempts.

The two teams will close out their three-game series with a single game, Sunday at noon.