#21 FMU and USCA split PBC Baseball Twinbill

FLORENCE, SC - Senior right-hander David Walters tossed a three-hit shutout in game one as 21st-ranked Francis Marion University blanked USC Aiken 8-0 on Saturday (March 7), but the Pacers captured a 5-4 win in game two as the squads split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.

Francis Marion moves to 14-7-1 overall and 5-3 in the Peach Belt, while USCA stands at 9-10 and 1-4. The two teams will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field.

In the opener, junior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht and sophomore first baseman Preston Shuey each had two-run hits in a six-run Patriot fourth inning.

Five Patriots had two hits in game one: Kleinknecht, second baseman Colby Green, designated hitter Jacob Wallace, catcher Jared Barkdoll, and right fielder Josh Smith. Kleinknecht also had a run-scoring single in the eighth inning to finish with three RBIs.

Walters (3-1) struck out nine and walked only two in the complete-game effort. He only allowed singles in the second, third, and ninth innings.

USCA starter Jeremy Smith (1-3) was tagged with the loss as he allowed seven runs (three earned).

In the second game, Pacer first baseman Ken Raborn hit a two-run homer to left in the first and stroked a tie-breaking RBI-double in the eighth inning. USCA scored a run on a throwing error by FMU pitcher Brandon Forshee (2-2) to tie the game at 4-4 in the eighth and then Raborn delivered the game-winning hit.

In addition to Raborn, center fielder Cody McMorris and shortstop Matt Key also had two hits for USCA in game two. Pacer starter Jason Cochcroft (2-1) earned the win, while Justin Fry picked up his second save of 2009 with two scoreless innings. He stranded FMU runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth.

Kleinknecht added three more hits in game two, while Smith was 2-for-4. Center fielder Alex Lee was 3-for-5 and scored once. FMU had taken a 4-3 lead in the sixth when Smith scored on a wild pitch.