FMU sweeps PBC baseball doubleheader from UNCP

FLORENCE, SC – Senior catcher Jared Barkdoll returned from a leg injury to go 3-for-9 with six runs batted in and helped Francis Marion University to a sweep of its Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with UNC Pembroke, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21) on Cormell Field.

Barkdoll was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Patriots a 6-5 victory in game one. In the second contest, he drove in four runs with a sacrifice fly and two singles as FMU won 8-5.

Francis Marion improves to 8-3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Peach Belt, while UNCP drops to 9-4 and 0-2. The two squads will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

In the opener, UNCP shortstop Jordan Pegram stroked a two-out RBI-single in the ninth inning to tie the game at 5-5. However with two outs in the last of the 11th frame, Braves reliever Ryan Kirkman (0-2) walked pinch hitter Taylor Norfleet, hit Barrett Kleinknecht, and walked Jacob Wallace before plucking Barkdoll to force in the winning run.

FMU reliever Josh Biggers (1-0) earned the win with 2.1 hitless innings. Senior third baseman Keon Graves paced FMU at the plate with a 3-for-5 game that included an RBI. First baseman Preston Shuey and right fielder Josh Smith were both 2-for-5. In addition to his final at bat, Barkdoll delivered an RBI double in the fifth inning.

Pegram collected three hits in game one, while left fielder Derek Funk was 2-for-5 while driving in two runs.

In game two, Francis Marion scored in each of the first four innings off UNCP righty Tyler Wood (3-1) to take a 6-3 lead. The Braves closed to within 6-5 in the fifth after an RBI-single by Kyle Adair and a sacrifice fly by Josh Haley. FMU added two insurance runs in the eighth on a run-scoring double by Wallace and an RBI-single by Barkdoll.

FMU freshman right-hander Jared Hooks (1-0) earned his first collegiate win with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, while junior southpaw Shane Gebhards got credit for his first save.

Barkdoll was 2-for-4 with four RBIs in game two, while Wallace was 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Kleinknecht, who homered in game one, had two hits in the second contest. Graves, however, had his hitting streak stopped at 10 games.

Adair paced the Braves in game two with a 3-for-3 game that also included a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Left fielder Keith Whitman was 2-for-5.

By Michael G. Hawkins