MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Senior outfielder Nick Stewart had three hits, including a home run, scored three times, and drove in two runs to help 27th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 13-5 win over third-ranked Georgia College & State University in game one of Saturday’s (March 24) Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. Junior right-hander Jayson Bennett pitched GC&SU to a split with a 2-1 decision in game two.

The two squads will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at p.m. GC&SU is now 27-6 overall and 12-2 in the PBC, while Francis Marion is 21-12 and 8-9.

In game one, the Patriots posted three multi-run innings, including a seven-run ninth to put GCSU away. Stewart also stole two bases and threw a Bobcat runner out at the plate.

Four Patriots had two hits: Greg Phelps, Justin Greene, Michael Ward, and Ryan Hewitt, with Phelps and Ward driving in three runs apiece. Patriot right-hander Dylan Owen (5-1) worked seven innings for the win. Zach Farry earned his third save.

Bobcat hitting stars were minimal in the opener, but senior first baseman Daniel Heflin did get a pair of RBI and a double, while Shaughnessy was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI in a reserve role.

GCSU starter Michael Antonini dropped to 6-2 by giving up two earned runs—three overall—in five innings of action.

Bennett (4-1) took a no-hitter into the fifth of the second game and finished with just one hit allowed over five shutout innings, walking two and fanning a pair of Patriots.

FMU managed only three hits in the game two. Pinch hitter Eric Armstrong plated the lone FMU run with an RBI groundout.

Senior rightfielder Bryan Shaughnessy blasted a pitch over the centerfield fence for a 1-0 lead in the first. GCSU tacked another on in the fourth when senior Rich Janofsky singled and took third when a pickoff attempt by FMU starter Mike Williams went wide. Freshman shortstop Chandler Snell plated the third baseman by ripping a two-out single that dropped in front of a diving Justin Greene in left.

GC&SU junior righty Michael Newman went the final two innings, making things interesting in the final inning when a leadoff double by Taylor Norfleet led to FMU’s first run. He got the final three outs to pick up his third save. Williams (5-2) took the loss in four innings of work.