FLORENCE, SC – Junior right-hander Jacob Dixon pitched eight shutout innings en route to his first win of the year and senior first baseman Marion Knowles homered for the second straight day as fifth-ranked University of North Florida defeated 10th-ranked Francis Marion University 5-1, Saturday afternoon (March 26) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

The win gave the Ospreys (23-9, 9-6) a two-games-to-one series win, FMU's first home PBC series loss this season.  Francis Marion, which had won 10 of its last 11 games, has now lost back-to-back contests for the first time in a month.  The loss was only the 14th loss for Francis Marion in its last 76 home games.

Dixon (1-3) limited FMU to six hits, three of which came in the ninth inning.  He struck out six batters and walked only one. The Oneida, Ill., native also beat FMU at the end of the 2003 season with seven shutout innings, eliminating the Patriots from the NCAA regional tournament.

UNF tallied two unearned runs off FMU reliever Brooks Sinquefield (2-4) in the fourth frame.  Francis Marion left fielder Justin Greene dropped a fly ball down the line, which eventually led to a Judd Loveland RBI ground out. With two outs and runners on second and third, Matt Oxendine grounded the ball to FMU third baseman Brian McFadden.  McFadden was unable to tag the runner moving between second and third, and his throw to first was late, allowing the second run of the inning to score.

UNF reserve Grant Rogers doubled home a run in the top of the seventh, giving the Ospreys a 3-0 advantage.  Knowles then pounded his ninth home run of the year, a two-run shot, over the left field fence in the Ospreys' ninth.

Francis Marion plated its lone run in the last of the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Nick Stewart.  Bert Rollins was then hit by a pitch and after infield singles by McFadden and Danny Mattonelli, the bases were loaded for pinch hitter Brent Johnson.  Representing the tying run, Johnson struck out looking to end the game.

Four Ospreys collected two hits in the game: Oxendine (2-5), Sadry Cafe (2-4), Josh Howard (2-3), and Dennis Anderson (2-4).

FMU sophomore catcher Michael Ward (2-4) doubled twice down the right field line, and he scored the Patriots' lone run in the ninth inning.

FMU will play at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Tuesday at 2 p.m., a contest that was rained out earlier this season.

Univ. of North Fla. 5, Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Mar 26, 2005 at Florence, SC)

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Univ. of North Fla..   000 200 102  -  5 12  0      (23-9, 9-6 PBC)

Francis Marion Univ. 000 000 001  -  1  6  2      (21-9-1, 11-9-1 PBC)

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Pitchers: UNF. - Dixon. Francis Marion - Williams; Sinquefield(4); Norris(4); Dobes(8); Benson(9).  Win- Dixon (1-3)  Loss- Sinquefield (2-4)  T-2:43  A-127  HR UNF - Knowles (9).