FLORENCE, S.C.— Sophomore third baseman Taylor Norfleet collected three hits and drove in two runs and senior center fielder Derek Kennamer also rapped out three hits to lead 24th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 9-5 non-conference win over Chowan University, Wednesday afternoon (March 14) in baseball action.

Francis Marion wins for the sixth time in its last seven games to improve to 18-8. Chowan drops to 14-9. The two teams will complete their two-game series with a 3 p.m. contest on Thursday at FMU’s Cormell Field.

Kennamer’s day gave the speedy outfielder eight hits in the last two games, after Tuesday’s 5-for-5 day at Limestone College.

FMU senior first baseman Andy Howes was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and Jared Barkdoll also had two hits and drove in one run. Junior shortstop Greg Phelps was 1-for-3 with an RBI, and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. 

Junior left-hander Michael Williams (5-0), the fourth of five Patriot pitchers, earned the win to remain unbeaten in 2007. Freshman southpaw Cory Deering pitched four scoreless innings to earn his first career save.

Chowan starter Steven Brown (3-2) was saddled with the loss as he allowed 10 hits and eight runs (all earned) in four frames.

FMU took an early lead with five runs in the bottom of the first, and never trailed. Chowan trimmed the margin to 5-4 with a three-run fourth inning that was capped by an RBI single by Nate Mitchell.

The Patriots scored three times in a fifth inning that included a national record-tying two sacrifice flies; one each by Phelps and Ryan Hewitt.

Mitchell paced the Hawk attack with a perfect 4-for-4 day, including a solo homer and two runs batted in. Third baseman P.J. Sadler added two hits and scored once, and Justin Hollingsworth had a two-run single.