PBC Tournament - Francis Marion Holds Off Columbus State 9-7

AIKEN, S.C. – Ninth-ranked and second-seeded Francis Marion claimed its school record 13th consecutive victory in a 9-7 victory over seventh-seeded Columbus State in quarterfinal action on Saturday afternoon of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference 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 on to the semifinal round of the 2009 single elimination PBC Tournament. The Patriots will next take on the winner of the #3 Georgia College & State and #6 UNC Pembroke game at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 10.

Columbus State opened the game by taking an early 4-0 lead after two innings, but after being held with nary a hit for the first two innings, Francis Marion broke through for seven runs in the bottom half of the third inning.

Francis Marion 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 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 bases loaded for Francis Marion two batters later, Columbus State starting pitcher Jarrett Coker then walked in two batters to give Francis Marion a 5-4 advantage.

After the second walked run, Anthony Arrington was called in from the bullpen to relieve Coker. In his second at-bat of the inning, Boyd then was able to bring in two unearned runs on an error by the Columbus State second baseman.

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 acquire the first two runs of the inning for Francis Marion. Two batters later, Morrison then singled to right field to bring in Montes and tie the game at 7-7.

In the bottom of the sixth another Columbus State error helped Francis Marion to take its lead back at 8-7. Boyd arriving on an error by the Cougars third baseman, Francis Marion rightfielder Alex Lee singled to center field to bring in Boyd.

The score still 8-7 in the bottom of the seventh, Francis Marion posted another run to take a two-run lead at 9-7. Preston Shuey captured the run for the Patriots when he doubled to left centerfield to bring in 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 Jacob Wallace all recording two hits. The Cougars also had three players capture three hits in the game with Morrison, Brad Bowen and Tim Bondell all finishing with two hits in the contest.

Francis Marion reliever Brandon Forshee picked up the win from the hill for the Patriots. Forshee (4-2) dealt four and a third of an inning of baseball in relief without surrendering a hit. Barrett Kleinknecht recorded the save for FMU in the game, striking out one of the final two batters in the top of the ninth inning.

Arrington suffered the loss for the Cougars to finish the year 2-5. Arrington struck out one in four and two-thirds of an inning on the hill.

Boxscore

Columbus State Head Coach Greg Appleton on the game – “We scored enough to win the ball game, we just gave them a big inning and then the walks and errors got to us in the end. They fought back and we didn’t have enough to get to them.”

Looking back on the season: “We expected a lot more and are disappointed to not still be playing.”

FMU Head Coach Art Inabinet on the game – Great baseball game, game that could have gone either way and we were very fortunate to win. I think our players did a great job, especially from the 5th on, Brandon Forshee did a great 4 innings and Barrett Kleinknec held on for the save. It was a typical Peachbelt tournament game.

We knew we would get Columbus State’s best shot, I’m proud of our guys for getting down 4 to 0 and coming back to win the ball game.

FMU Pitcher Brandon Forshee – “Columbus State’s a good team, they played a great game.”