KENNESAW, GA - John Robbins allowed only one run in six innings and catcher Derrick Tucker went 3-for-3 as ninth-ranked Kennesaw State University defeated Francis Marion University 5-2 Sunday afternoon (Feb. 20) at Stillwell Stadium, completing a three-game Peach Belt Conference sweep of the Patriots.

The Owls move to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the Peach Belt, while FMU falls to 7-5 and 1-5, with all five losses coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents.

Sophomore righty Brooks Sinquefield (1-2) pitched valiantly for the Patriots in the  complete-game loss, allowing eight hits and striking out six.  Second baseman Omar Quiles and center fielder Quentin Davis each went two-for-four to lead Francis Marion.  First baseman Luke Ogletree had the lone Patriot RBI.

Things started a little shaky for Robbins (2-0) in the top of the first inning as he hit the leadoff batter Quiles and gave up a triple to Davis down the right field line.  But Quiles was cut down at home plate on a textbook relay throw from Owl second baseman Jeremy Brotherton to temporarily keep the game scoreless.  However, a Robbins wild pitch to the next hitter allowed Davis to score from third and give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

The Owls tied score in their half of the first inning when Brotherton (1-for-2) was hit by a pitch and later scored on a Kevin Gergel (1-for-2) sacrifice fly.

KSU made the score 3-1 in the third inning on a RBI-single by Scott Hendrix (1-for-2) and a RBI-triple off the bat of Gergel.  The Owls extended the lead to 4-1 in the fourth frame when Ryan Apple (1-for-3) led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a ground out, and scored when Tucker sliced an opposite-field single to right field.

Apple was responsible for the Owls' fifth and final run in the fifth inning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Adrian Colton (1-for-4), who had reached base on a single, to score.

Francis Marion cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the eighth when Davis lead off with his second triple of the game and scored on Ogletree's infield single.

The Patriots tried to mount a rally in the ninth inning when pinch hitter Bert Rollins reached base on catcher's interference and Quiles singled to left field, bringing the tying run to the plate with only one out.

But Bubba Blalock, who came in to pitch in the seventh inning, struck out Jason Weaver for the second out before head coach Mike Sansing brought in Hendrix to get the final out.  Hendrix promptly got Davis to foul out to third base, earning his first save of his collegiate career.

Robbins gave up only four hits in his six innings of work, striking out three and walking one to earn his second win of the season.  Blalock, making his third appearance of the year, gave up one run and four hits, while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings of work.

FMU plays at Newberry College, Tuesday at 3 p.m.