FLORENCE, S.C. – Freshmen pitchers Cory Deering and Erik Sommerville combined on a seven-hit shutout and seniors Andy Howes and Nick Stewart both homered in an 18-hit attack as 27th-ranked Francis Marion University blitzed Wingate University 13-0, Thursday afternoon (March 8) in non-conference baseball action.

FMU improves to 14-7, while the Bulldogs drop to 7-13.

Deering (1-0), a left-hander out of Summerville High School, made his first collegiate start and picked up the win with 5.2 scoreless innings. Sommerville, a righty from Charlotte’s Providence High School, did not allow a hit over the final 3.1 innings to earn his first save. Freshman right-hander Bryan Bialecki (0-1), making his second career start, was the losing pitcher.

Francis Marion scored five runs in the third frame, highlighted by an opposite field three-run homer by junior outfielder Justin Greene. Howes hit a solo shot and Stewart a three-run blast to account for a four-run sixth inning.

Senior catcher Michael Ward was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while sophomore Jared Barkdoll was 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Greene ended the day 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs.

First baseman Jay Barnes (2-for-4) and catcher Tim Cottrell (2-for-3) paced the Wingate attack.

Francis Marion plays host to sixth-ranked Columbus State University for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series this weekend, beginning with a twinbill on Saturday at 1 p.m. Wingate plays a doubleheader at Catawba College on Saturday at 3 p.m.