Spartanburg, S.C. — Francis Marion University junior right-hander Dylan Owen (3-1) pitched a complete-game two-hitter, while striking out 11, as the 28th-ranked Patriots  downed 21st-ranked USC Upstate 7-2, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 24) in college baseball action.

Francis Marion improves to 8-4 overall and evens its Peach Belt Conference mark at 2-2.  The loss is the first at home for the Spartans (10-4, 2-2) this season and ends their nine-game home winning streak that dated back to last season.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Patriots scored two runs in the top of the third inning on when third baseman Taylor Norfleet hit a RBI single to center field and right fielder Nick Stewart scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.

The Spartans answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly by junior designated hitter Kyle Bowley that scored senior shortstop John Caddell and junior left fielder Andrew Maddox scored on an error to cut the lead to 3-2.

After adding a run on a sacrifice fly by catcher Jared Barkdoll in the sixth inning, Francis Marion put the game away with two more runs in the eighth on Barkdoll’s two-RBI single for a 6-2 lead. The Patriots finished the scoring with a run in the ninth inning on an RBI double by double by first baseman Andy Howes.

Upstate could not get anything going against Owen, who retired the Spartans in order in seven of the nine innings. Maddox was 1-for-4 with a run scored to lead Upstate and sophomore right fielder Kyle Simpson was 1-for-1. Center fielder Bret Hansen extended his streak of being on-base in all 14 games this season when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning.

Barkdoll was 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Francis Marion and left fielder Justin Greene finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Howes was 2-for-4.

Upstate senior pitcher Scott Eckard (3-1) took the loss, giving up eight hits, four runs, three walks, and struck out four batters.