FLORENCE, S.C.— Three Francis Marion University starters recorded three hits apiece as the 24th-ranked Patriots pounded out a season-high 22 hits in an 18-3 win over Chowan University, Thursday afternoon (March 15) in non-conference baseball action.

Francis Marion (19-8) has won seven of its last eight games as the Patriots prepare for a key Peach Belt Conference series with 11th-ranked USC Aiken this weekend in Florence. 

Freshman right-hander Erik Sommerville (1-1), the third of four FMU pitchers, allowed only one hit over three innings to earn his first career victory. Righty Brookes Walker (2-1) took the loss as Chowan falls to 14-10.

Senior right fielder Nick Stewart was 3-for-4 (including his fourth homer of 2007) and drove in four runs, while junior outfielder Justin Greene was 3-for-4 and junior infielder Ryan Hypke was 3-for-5. Sophomore third baseman Taylor Norfleet drove in four runs with a pair of two-run singles in the third and fourth innings.

After Chowan took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by catcher Matt Bullock, FMU responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame, aided by a key two-out error.

The Patriots added two runs in the third and four each in the fourth and fifth innings enroute to a 13-2 advantage.

FMU junior shortstop Greg Phelps had a run-scoring single in the first to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Chowan managed only three singles. Second baseman Joey Ryder had a run-scoring ground out in the fourth, and the Hawks’ final run came home on a Francis Marion error in the eighth.