AUGUSTA, GA – Francis Marion University’s Z-Z pitching duo of Zane Petty and Zach Farry combined on a 12-hit shutout as the 30th-ranked Patriots blanked Augusta State University 5-0 to earn a split of their Sunday afternoon (April 20) Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. ASU scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break an 8-8 deadlock and the Jaguars went on to a 12-10 win in game one.

With the split, FMU ends its regular season 32-18 overall and 16-11 in the PBC, currently tied for third place. That finish assures Francis Marion a spot in the six-team Peach Belt Conference Tournament, May 8-11 in Aiken and Augusta. ASU drops to 26-24 and 9-15.

In game one, ASU jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs after two were out in the first frame on a walk, an RBI double by Shannon Wilkerson, an RBI single by Clay Haynes, and an RBI triple by Tyler Marzofka.

The Patriots knotted the score at 4-4 in the third inning, starting off with a home run from senior center fielder Justin Green followed by run-scoring hits from Preston Shuey and Keon Graves.

FMU again tied the score at 6-6 on a two-run homer by senior second baseman Ryan Hypke in the fifth, and tied the game at 8-8 in the sixth on a Greg Phelps’ solo shot and an RBI single by catcher Jared Barkdoll.

The Jaguars then scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to go up 11-8, FMU would trim the lead to 12-10 in the ninth and have the bases loaded, but Barkdoll popped up and Shuey grounded out to end the game.

Greene and Shuey each had three hits as the Patriots pounded out 19 safeties, but left 12 runners on base. FMU sophomore lefty Cory Deering (3-4) was tagged with the loss.

Kevin Owens led ASU going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Haynes was 3-for-3 with four runs scored and an RBI. ASU’s Adam Mathis earned the win while Blake Pockrandt got a save.

In game two, Petty (5-0) and Farry (13th save) scattered the 12 hits, but kept the Jaguars off the scoreboard. 

Three runs in the top of the first would prove to be all the scoring FMU would need. Phelps and Greene hit back-to-back homers to open the game. Barkdoll was then hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score on an RBI single by Hypke.

A sacrifice fly by freshman Chris Honeycutt plated Vince Farfaglia with FMU’s fourth run in the third inning. Shuey drove in the Patriots’ fifth and final run with a single in the fourth.

Five Patriots tallied two hits in the second contest: Phelps, Greene, Barkdoll, Shuey and Graves.

Jacob Watson (3-4) took the loss, pitching all nine innings with seven strikeouts.

The Patriots return to action at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, May 8-11.