FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-5-03

College Baseball: No. 26 Francis Marion 6, No. 8 AASU 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Francis Marion capitalized on three errors in the first two innings to plate six runs and hold on for a 6-3 victory over Armstrong Atlantic State in Peach Belt Conference baseball action at Pirate Field on Saturday afternoon.

Francis Marion (22-14) plated two runs in the first inning thanks to two errors by second baseman Adam Brandenburg. The second error – an errant throw to second base on an attempted pivot - plated both Jason Weaver and Jerry Honeycutt with the first two runs of the game.

The second inning saw the Patriots get four more runs to build a 6-0 lead. Quentin Davis reached on a bunt single to third, then a sacrifice attempt by Chris Newman led to another error as the Pirates tried to turn a double play. Two straight singles and a two-RBI double by Honeycutt plated the four runs for Francis Marion.

The Pirates (24-7, 8-5 PBC) battled back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Matt Stephens and a squeeze bunt by Brandenburg, then added a single run in the ninth on a solo home run by Brandon McKinnon. That would be all the Pirates would get as Patriots hurler Kenny Cooley would go the distance, scattering eight hits and three runs while walking just one and striking out eight to improve to 7-3 on the season. AASU starter Jason Olson also pitched a complete game, giving up nine hits and six runs – three earned – while striking out three to suffer the loss and fall to 6-3 on the year.

Both teams will wrap up their Peach Belt Conference series on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -