Mr. Smith helps Patriots sweep Golden Eagles

FLORENCE, SC - Junior outfielder Josh Smith delivered a tie-breaking, run-scoring single in the bottom of the sixth inning and 21st-ranked Francis Marion University went on to a 6-4 win over Clarion University and a sweep of their Wednesday evening (March 4) non-conference baseball doubleheader.

Freshman right-hander Sebie Kirkland tossed six shutout innings and senior David Walters pitched a scoreless seventh inning as FMU blanked the Golden Eagles 2-0 in game one.

FMU (13-6-1) will host USC Aiken for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. Clarion (0-4) plays a twinbill at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Thursday at 1 p.m.

In Wednesday’s opener, Kirkland (1-0) silenced the Clarion bats on only two hits for his first collegiate win. He struck out nine and walked only two. Walters earned his first save of 2009.

Back-to-back RBI-singles by freshman outfielder Tyler Boyd and junior designated hitter Taylor Norfleet in the bottom of the fourth frame accounted for the two FMU runs.

Sophomore Eric Panko (0-1) started and took the loss for Clarion.

In the second contest, Clarion built a 4-1 lead in the third inning. Shortstop Andrew Petruska delivered a two-run double to left field, Sean Zimmerman collected an infield RBI single, and a fourth run scored on a Patriot error.

Petruska finished game two 4-for-4.

FMU rallied with a run in the fifth, on an RBI single to right by Colby Green, and then four runs in the sixth inning. That frame featured Smith’s hit, in addition to a two-run single by Jeff Felten and an RBI ground out by Green.

Smith ended the game 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, and a run scored.

Junior right-hander Josh Biggers got the final out of the game, stranding three Clarion runners on base, to earn his second save. Southpaw Shane Gebhards (1-0) got the win.

Clarion starter Chuck Roller (0-1) allowed all six runs and was tagged with the loss.

By Michael G. Hawkins