HARTSVILLE, SC – Brab Boob and three relievers combined on a nine-hit shutout as Coker College blanked 22nd-ranked Francis Marion University 1-0, Tuesday afternoon (April 10) in non-conference baseball action.

Boob (3-7) earned the win with the help of Matt Conyers, Jesse Hatchell and Kyle Strickland, who stranded two FMU runners on base in the ninth inning to earn his second save.  Coker improves to 18-27, while FMU drops to 29-15.

The only run of the game crossed home plate in the bottom of the second inning, when Brian Johanson drove home Seth Weinberg with a single to left field.

The Patriots stranded 13 runners, including the bases loaded in the second inning and runners in scoring position in five other frames.   In the eighth inning, with runners on first and third and two outs, FMU freshman Ryan Hewitt hit a looping line drive toward left center that looked as if it was going to fall for a hit, but Coker short stop Brian Nally made a spectacular over the shoulder grab to protect the Cobra lead.

Senior right-hander Brooks Sinquefield (2-4) took the loss for the Patriots, despite a complete-game effort that saw him allow only seven hits and the one run.

Center fielder Derek Kennamer and catcher Michael Ward paced Francis Marion with 2-for-5 afternoons.

For the Cobras, Johanson was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Steven Evans was 2-for-3 and Ben Davidson was 2-for-4. Nally was 1-for-4 with a double.

FMU returns to action on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at Barton College.