GREENWOOD, S.C. ---- Senior right fielder Nick Stewart was a perfect 4-for-4 and junior right-hander Dylan Owen recorded his ninth win of the year as 19th-ranked Francis Marion University beat Lander University 7-1 in the opening game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader, Friday afternoon (May 4).  Danny Morgan's three-run home run highlighted an eight-run, fourth inning as Lander claimed a 10-4 win in game two.

Francis Marion ends its regular season at 35-16 overall and in third place in the PBC with a 18-12 mark.  The Patriots will play in next week's PBC Tournament in Spartanburg.  Lander finishes the year 20-34 and 9-21.

In the opener, Owen (9-1) earned the win as he struck out five, walked one, and allowed one run on six hits in six innings pitched. Junior lefty Zach Farry pitched the final three frames to earn his school-record ninth save of 2007.  Lander’s Evan Christian (4-4) took the loss.

Stewart rapped out a single, a triple, and two doubles, while scoring twice and driving in one run. Sophomore Jared Barkdoll went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. He also had a hit in the second game to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.  Shortstop Greg Phelps went 3-for-5 and Ryan Hypke went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Stewart doubled to center field, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on Hypke’s RBI single to right field.  Lander tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning.

FMU scored two runs in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Barkdoll singled to left field, advanced to second on Michael Ward’s single to left and to third on Stewart’s sacrifice bunt. Barkdoll scored on Taylor Norfleet’s sacrifice fly and Ward scored on Hypke’s RBI single. The Patriots extended their lead to 4-1 in the eighth when Hypke singled to left field, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Phelps’ RBI single.

The Patriots scored their final three runs in the ninth. Barkdoll tripled to right center and scored on Stewart’s RBI single to right field, Ward scored on Ryan Hewitt’s sacrifice fly and Stewart crossed the plate on Derek Kennamer’s RBI single to right.

Daniel Hinchberger (8-5) earned the victory for Lander in game two as he struck out six, walked three and allowed four earned runs in the complete seven innings. FMU’s Cole McKellar (7-4) took the loss as he walked one and allowed five runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched.

Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Norfleet scored from third on a wild pitch with bases loaded. After Lander went ahead 2-1, the Patriots scored twice in the third frame on back-to-back RBI singles by Ward and Norfleet.

For FMU, Eric Armstrong (1-for-2) and Barkdoll (1-for-3) both doubled, while Ward went 2-for-3 in the second contest.