Cougars End Season With Loss to Francis Marion
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francis Marion (36-15) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Columbus St. (30-23) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| @ Columbus, GA | Golden Park | ||||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: Gary Ashcraft (6-0) - Francis Marion |
| Loss: Levi Futo (3-4) - Columbus St. |
| Save: Jeffrey Stoner (8) - Francis Marion |
| Francis Marion Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Buddy Sosnoskie 2 |
| 3B: none |
| HR: none |
| Columbus St. Batting |
|---|
| 2B: none |
| 3B: none |
| HR: none |
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Columbus – Sixth-ranked Francis Marion scored the final three runs of the game to defeat Columbus State University 4-1 Friday afternoon at Golden Park. The loss eliminates the Cougars from the Peach Belt Conference Tournament while FMU advances to play Armstrong Atlantic State University later this evening.
After Francis Marion stranded two runners in the first inning, the Patriots started a two-out run scoring rally in the second. Rhodes Dickerson started the rally singling up the middle before Brian Paulhus worked a walk to put two runners on base. On a 1-1 pitch, sophomore Michael Wilson laced a ball through the right side of the infield that drove in Dickerson.
The Cougars (30-23) scored their lone run in the game in bottom of the fourth inning as Navarro Hall singled sharply through the infield. Using his speed, the senior stole second before moving to third base on a groundout. Brett Teschner would then record CSU's only hit with a runner in scoring position singling right back up the middle to tie the game at one.
FMU didn't waste any time in retaking the lead coming right back in the top of the fifth. Wilson led the frame off with a single but Levi Futo retired the next two batters. However, Buddy Sosnoskie hit a sinking liner that bounced past J.D. Pullen. Wilson rounded the third base bag when shortstop Seth Corbitt received the relay-throw from the outfield. Corbitt threw the ball to the plate but the throw went high giving the Patriots a one-run lead.
CSU managed to put a runner on second base with one-out in the fifth but back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame.
Francis Marion (36-15) added insurance runs in the eighth and the ninth. Dickerson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly after Stephen Tarkenton led the inning off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third on a grounder.
Sosnoskie capped off the scoring with a RBI double in the ninth.
Jeffrey Stoner entered in the game in the top of the sixth and Scott greeted him with a hard hit single to rightfield. After that, Stoner did not allow another hit while issuing just one walk during the span. He struck out three batter on his way to his eighth save.
Eric Weiss was the lone Cougar hitter to have a multi-hit day going 2-for-4. Brett Teschner was 1-for-4 with a RBI.
Columbus State was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position for the day.
Levi Futo (3-4) pitched well for the Cougars throwing 7.2 innings allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out four while also walking four.
Gary Ashcraft improved to 6-0 lasting five innings allowing one run on five hits.
Buddy Sosnoskie was 4-for-5 for FMU driving in a pair of runs.
