FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University erupted for 10 hits and nine runs over its final three at bats as the 29th-ranked Patriots rallied for a 12-4 win over Newberry College, Wednesday night (March 28) in non-conference baseball action at Cormell Field.

Francis Marion improves to 22-13, while the Indians drop to 15-21.

Senior right fielder Nick Stewart paced a 15-hit Patriot attack. He was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two runs driven in, while tying a school record with two triples. Junior shortstop Greg Phelps, batting in the No. 9 position, was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while leadoff man Derek Kennamer was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Senior designated hitter Michael Ward and junior infielder David Bounds both drove in two runs apiece.

Junior left fielder Nick Martin led Newberry with a 4-for-4 night that included a two-run double. Right fielder Scott Horvath was 3-for-4, while both first baseman David Tunstill and second baseman Kris Garcia each had two hits.

An RBI groundout by Thomas Berryhill in the first and the two-run double by Martin in the second helped stake the Indians to an early 3-1 lead. However, Newberry could not hold a 4-2 advantage as FMU came to bat in the last of the fifth. The Patriots scored once each in the fifth and sixth innings and then plated three runs in the seventh and five insurance tallies in the eighth.

Junior left-hander Zach Farry (3-1), the third of four FMU hurlers got the win, while junior All-American righty Dylan Owen retired the final four batters to earn his first save of 2007 and the second of his career.

Junior right-hander Travis Howard (0-2) allowed six runs and was the losing pitcher.

FMU plays host to NCAA Division I Brown University on Thursday at 2 p.m. (note time change from 1 p.m.), while Newberry plays a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader at Lenoir-Rhyne College on Saturday at noon.