FLORENCE, S.C. – Senior designated hitter Michael Ward singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift 11th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 3-2 win over Augusta State University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17) in the Peach Belt Conference baseball opener for both teams.
FMU improves to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the PBC, while ASU falls to 6-3 and 0-1. The two squads will complete the weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Ward, who was 2-for-3 on the day, scored Nick Stewart with the winning run. Earlier, Ward had given Francis Marion a 2-1 advantage with a two-run single in the last of the sixth inning.
ASU led 1-0 in the fifth after Kevin Owens’ RBI fielder’s choice grounder. The Jaguars knotted the score at 2-2 when pinch hitter Jeremy Armstrong doubled home Robbie Fite with two outs in the top of the eighth.
ASU shortstop Bennett Mayfield went 3-for-4 to pace the Jaguars. Stewart, Ward, and catcher Jared Barkdoll each had two safeties for FMU.
Patriot southpaw Zach Farry (1-0) picked up his first win despite allowing the tying run in the eighth, and senior righty Brooks Sinquefield earned his second save with a scoreless ninth inning.
ASU reliever Ryan Emmett (1-1) was the loser.
Francis Marion Univ. 3, Augusta State Univ. 2 (Feb 17, 2007 at Florence, SC)
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Augusta State Univ.. 000 010 010 - 2 9 1 (6-3, 0-1 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 002 01X - 3 8 0 (5-2, 1-0 PBC)
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Pitchers: Augusta State Univ. - Williams; Emmett(6). Francis Marion Univ. - Owen; McKellar(7);
Farry(8); Sinquefield(9).
Win-Farry(1-0) Save-Sinquefield(2) Loss-Emmett(1-1) T-2:15 A-75
