Patriots and Blazers split season-opening baseball twinbill

FLORENCE, SC - Francis Marion University rallied from an early 6-1 deficit to win game one of Sunday's (Feb. 1) season-opening baseball doubleheader 11-7, while Valdosta State University cruised to a 9-0 victory in game two.

FMU is ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II, while the Blazers are No. 21.

The Patriots will return to Cormell Field this coming weekend when they host the three-day South Atlantic Challenge, Friday through Sunday.  FMU will face St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Friday at noon, Limestone College on Saturday at 3 p.m., and Coker College on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Senior FMU catcher Jared Barkdoll collected three hits in the opener, while scoring twice and driving in a run.  Senior third baseman Keon Graves had two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run, while junior centerfielder Alex Lee drove in a three runs with a bases-loaded triple in the decisive 5-run fifth frame.

Junior right-hander Brandon Forshee (1-0) picked up the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.  Junior Barrett Kleinknecht moved from shortstop to the mound to earn the save as he tossed the final 2.1 innings.  Kleinknecht also homered to lead off the fifth inning.

Five Blazers collected two hits in the opener as VSU totaled 13 base hits.  Shortstop Jon Koenigsfeld has two hits and also drove in two runs. Freshman righty Colby Yates (0-1) entered the game in the fourth inning and was tagged with the loss.

Valdosta State scored five runs off FMU starter Josh Edgin (0-1) over the first three innings of game two en route to the win.  Blazer catcher Chase Blackwood hit a three-run homer in the second frame. 

VSU designated hitter Matt Costello had two hits and drove in two runs, while third baseman Austin Smith also plated two runs.

VSU junior right-hander Glen Lemke (1-0) and two relievers limited FMU to only two hits: a second-inning double by Taylor Norfleet and a sixth-inning single by Lee.