FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University freshman left-hander Michael Williams and senior righty Mitch Norris combined to shut out 30th-ranked USC Aiken 3-0 on only six singles, Sunday afternoon (March 6), giving the 29th-ranked Patriots a two-games-to-one Peach Belt Conference series win.

FMU improves to 13-6-1 overall and 5-6-1 in the PBC, while USCA drops to 11-5 and 4-5.

Williams (1-0) allowed five singles in five innings to earn his first collegiate win, while Norris pitched one-hit ball over four innings to gain his first collegiate save.

Patriot leadoff batter Omar Quiles continued his hot hitting as he reached on a single up the middle to open the FMU first inning.  Four batters later, he scored on a slow roller to third base by Michael Ward that went for an infield single.  Francis Marion scored its other two runs in the fifth frame when senior first baseman Luke Ogletree sliced a two-out, two-run double down the right field line.  USCA right fielder Darryl Pui went to his knees and the ball hit his glove, but he was unable to hang on to the ball for the third out.

Quiles and Ward both went two-for-four to lead FMU.  Quiles has now hit safely in 19 of the Patriots’ 20 contests, including 12 multi-hit games.

Pacer leadoff man Casey Derhak was two-for-four, while designated hitter Bob Hatcher had a pair of singles in three at bats.  USCA southpaw Peden Rucker (2-1) took the loss despite allowing only five hits and throwing only 87 pitches in his eight innings.

The FMU defense turned three double plays, each time squashing a Pacer scoring threat.  Williams induced Matthew Tripp to hit into an inning-ending double play with two runners on base in the second inning.  Williams again got Tripp to ground into a twin-killing to end the fifth inning.  Norris entered the game with no outs and two runners on in the top of the sixth, but he got his first batter Marc Joehnk to ground into a double play.

FMU will play at Barton College, Tuesday at 2 p.m.