Shuey’s “run-off” inside-the-park homer lifts FMU to 5-4 win

FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore first baseman Preston Shuey lined an inside-the-park home run to deep center field with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Francis Marion University a 5-4 win over Davis & Elkins College, Sunday afternoon (Feb. 15) and a sweep of the three-game non-conference series.

Francis Marion ups its mark to 6-3, while the Senators fall to 0-6. FMU will play at Pfeiffer University on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

With one out in the ninth, Shuey lined a shot to deep straight-away center field. Davis & Elkins center fielder Brock Watson, who had earlier in the game ended the first and second innings with fully-extended dividing catches, turned his back to the plate and pursued the ball. He dove and gloved the ball, but it popped out as he hit the ground and Watson was injured on the play. The Senators’ left fielder came over to pick up the ball, but the 6-5, 245-pound Shuey beat the relay throw home for his eighth career homer and first of 2009.

FMU right-handed reliever Brandon Forshee (2-0) earned the win with three shutout innings. David & Elkins southpaw Jared Winder was the hard-luck loser, as he allowed only four hits and the one run in four innings of relief.

FMU designated hitter Barrett Kleinknecht and senior third baseman Keon Graves both collected three hits and scored once. Shuey also had an RBI-double in the second inning.

Watson, catcher Eric Doyle, and second baseman Josh Lopez all had two hits for Davis & Elkins.

Lopez gave Davis & Elkins a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI-infield single, but the Patriots tied it in the bottom of the frame on Shuey’s hit. FMU scored three times in the third inning on a 2-run double by catcher Jacob Wallace and a sacrifice fly by Alex Lee.

Davis & Elkins escaped further trouble in the fifth when Senators’ first baseman Andrew Ford caught a foul pop near the first base dugout and flipped over the fence, ending the inning and stranding two Patriot runners on base.

The Senators answered with three runs in the seventh inning to tie the contest at 4-4. One run scored on a throwing error by FMU starter Josh Edgin, while the third and fourth runs came home on a fielder’s choice grounder by Brenton Kopecek and a ground out by Aaron Hallett.

The two teams combined to strand 25 runners on base: 14 by Francis Marion and 11 by Davis & Elkins.


Francis Marion Univ. 5, Davis & Elkins Coll. 4 (Feb 15, 2009 at Florence, SC)
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Davis & Elkins Coll. 010 000 300 - 4 9 2 (0-6)
Francis Marion Univ. 013 000 001 - 5 11 2 (6-3)
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Pitchers: Davis & Elkins Coll. - Jake Ross; Jared Winder (5). Francis Marion Univ. - Josh Edgin;
Brandon Forshee (7).
Win-Brandon Forshee (2-0) Loss-Jared Winder T-2:47 A-101
HR FMU - Preston Shuey (1).
Edgin faced 3 batters in the 7th.