Patriots and Cougars split PBC baseball doubleheader

FLORENCE, S.C. — A strong pitching performance by senior right-hander David Walters lifted 15th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 3-1 victory in game one, but the Columbus State University bats came alive in the second contest for an 8-4 win as the two squads split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader, Saturday afternoon (March 21) in college baseball action.

FMU is now 19-9-1 overall and 7-5 in the PBC, while CSU moves to 16-11 and 6-4. The two teams remain second (CSU) and third (FMU) in the Peach Belt standings behind conference leader GCSU (19-8, 8-4).

The two team will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on FMU’s Cormell Field.

Walters improved to 4-2 as he held the Cougars to one run on nine hits in his eight innings. He struck out six and walked only one. Junior righty Brandon Forshee stranded the tying runners on base in the ninth inning to earn his second save of 2009.

Francis Marion scored single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings to build a 3-0 advantage. Freshman outfielder Tyler Boyd drove in the first run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Junior second baseman Colby Green had an RBI-single in the fourth, and senior catcher Jared Barkdoll plated the final run with an RBI-double to right center.

Junior designated hitter Jacob Wallace paced FMU at the plate with a 3-for-4 game, while Barkdoll and Boyd each had two hits.

Designated hitter Aaron Beasley, who was 2-for-4, accounted for CSU’s lone run with a solo homer to right field in the eighth inning. Center fielder Alex Montes also had two hits for the Cougars.

Senior right-hander Jarrett Coker (2-3) was the losing pitcher as he allowed the three runs on eight hits in seven innings of work.

In game two, sophomore third baseman Chris Martin, who entered the game hitting just .120, went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two doubles, a home run, and two RBIs. First baseman Thomas Morrison had a two-single in the fourth and designated hitter Tyler Baughman doubled home two runs in the sixth for Columbus State.

CSU southpaw Chris Snipes (2-4) picked up the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief work. FMU starter Jeremiah Meiners (3-1) suffered his first loss of the year as he allowed five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings.

Barkdoll was 3-for-5 in game two with a run scored and two runs batted in. Junior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht was 2-for-4 with his team-leading 28th RBI of the season.


Michael G. Hawkins