Patriots claim 13th straight win, down CSU 9-7 at PBC Tournament

AIKEN, S.C. – Junior right fielder Alex Lee singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning and two Francis Marion University relievers stranded the tying runs on base in the ninth inning as the ninth-ranked and second-seeded Patriots claimed their school-record 13th consecutive victory in a 9-7 win over seventh-seeded Columbus State University, Saturday morning (May 9) in quarterfinal action of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Baseball Tournament at Roberto Hernandez Stadium.

Francis Marion improves to 34-13-1 on the year with the victory, while Columbus State concludes its 2009 season with a 27-23 record.

Francis Marion moves into the semifinal round of the single-elimination PBC Tournament. The Patriots will meet the Georgia College & State University/UNC Pembroke winner at 11 a.m. on Sunday (May 10). The title game is set for 6 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Columbus State opened the game by taking an early 4-0 lead after three innings, knocking out FMU starter David Walters. After being held without a hit for the first two innings, Francis Marion broke through for seven runs in the bottom half of the third inning.

FMU leftfielder Tyler Boyd got things going for the Patriots in the frame by hitting a double just inside the right field line. He was then brought home for the first Patriot run of the game on a Martin Gordon RBI-single. Two walks later, Jacob Wallace singled through the right side for two more runs and to cut the Columbus State advantage to 4-3. The hit also extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

With the bases loaded for Francis Marion two batters later, Columbus State starting pitcher Jarrett Coker then walked in two runs to give Francis Marion a 5-4 advantage. After the second walked-in run, Anthony Arrington was called in from the bullpen to relieve Coker. In his second at-bat of the inning, Boyd was able to bring in two unearned runs on an error by the Columbus State second baseman.

Now trailing 7-4, the Cougars clawed their way back into the contest in the top of the next frame with three runs. Alex Montes singled up the middle to drive in two runs, and two batters later, first baseman Thomas Morrison then singled to right field to bring in Montes and tie the game at 7-7.

In the bottom of the sixth, another CSU error helped Francis Marion to regain the lead at 8-7. Boyd reached on an error by the Cougars’ third baseman, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on Lee’s single to centerfield.

The Patriots posted an insurance run in the seventh when Preston Shuey doubled to left centerfield to plate Keon Graves, who after two quick outs in the inning had singled to left field to keep the Patriots hopes alive in the stanza.

Three Patriots finished Saturday's quarterfinal with two hits with Lee, Gordon and Wallace all recording two hits. The Cougars also had three players capture multiple hits in the game with Morrison, Brad Bowen and Tim Bondell all finishing with two hits.

Francis Marion reliever Brandon Forshee (4-2) picked up the win from the hill for the Patriots. Forshee tossed 4.1 innings of hitless relief. After he hit and walked a batter in the top of the ninth, southpaw Cory Deering came on to record the first out of the inning on a popped up bunt. Junior Barrett Kleinknecht then moved from shortstop to the mound to retire the final two Cougar batters and earn his fourth save of 2009.

Arrington (2-5) suffered the loss for the Cougars, as he struck out one and allowed the final two runs in 4.2 innings of work.