FLORENCE, SC — For the second consecutive game, Francis Marion University junior third baseman Brian McFadden drove home the game-winning run with a single in the bottom of the last inning.  On Sunday afternoon (April 3), his one-out line-drive into left field scored Nick Stewart in the bottom of the 11th inning giving the ninth-ranked Patriots a 2-1 win over Columbus State University and a sweep of the squads' three-game Peach Belt Conference series.

In the final inning of Saturday's second game of the PBC doubleheader, McFadden drove home the winning run with a squeeze bunt single.  McFadden is a native of Scranton.

FMU senior right-handed reliever Mitch Norris tossed 4.2 innings of no-hit ball and picked up his second win of 2005 in three decisions.  He leads FMU with three saves, and Sunday lowered his earned run average to 0.99.   Patriot freshman starter Michael Williams allowed eight hits and CSU's one run in 6.1 innings.

Francis Marion improves to 24-11-1 overall and to 14-9-1 in the Peach Belt.  Columbus State loses its fifth straight conference contest to fall to 15-21 and 6-12.

CSU reliever Hurston Pittman (0-2) was the losing pitcher, although FMU's winning run was unearned.  Cougar starter Brent Benefield threw 136 pitches in nine innings, while limiting Francis Marion to eight hits and only one run.  He fanned eight batters, while walking two.

FMU senior first baseman Luke Ogltree recorded his first career four-hit game (in five at bats), and he scored the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning.  McFadden finished the game three-for-four.

Columbus State took a 1-0 lead with two outs in the top of the fifth when first baseman Billy Howard singled to right field, driving home Casey Cook, who had led off the inning with a double.  Right fielder Stephen Worrell (2-4) was the only Cougar with more than one hit.

The Patriots knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, when Ogletree singled and then advanced to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, designated hitter Michael Ward battled Benefield to a full count after initially falling behind 0-2.  Ward then doubled just inside the third-base bag scoring Ogletree from second.

In the 11th frame, FMU catcher Nick Richardson walked.  Stewart then attempted to bunt Richardson to second, but Pittman fielded the ball and forced Richardson at second.  However, the relay throw to first from CSU shortstop Casey Cook was wild and Stewart advanced to second on the error.  McFadden then drove a 1-2 pitch into left field and Stewart slid home safely ahead of the throw.

FMU will play host to Newberry College for an unusual doubleheader on Tuesday at 5 p.m.  The two squads will complete a suspended game from earlier this season, prior to playing the regularly scheduled contest.  In the suspended game, FMU leads 7-0 in the middle of the fifth inning.

#9 Francis Marion 2, Columbus State 1 (Apr. 3, 2005 at Florence, SC)

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Columbus State Univ. 000 010 000 00 -  1  8  1      (15-21, 6-12 PBC)

Francis Marion Univ. 000 001 000 01 -  2 11  1      (24-11-1, 14-9-1 PBC)

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Pitchers: CSU - Benefield; Pittman (10). FMU - Williams; Norris (7).  Win-Norris (2-1)  Loss-Pittman (0-2)  T-2:54  Atten.-77

Game notes: McFadden's RBI single to left field plates Stewart with the winning run ; FMU sweeps the three-game Peach Belt Conference series