Bases-loaded walk to Smith gives #8 FMU a 5-4 win over #21 LMU

GREENWWOD, SC - Senior pinch hitter Josh Smith drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in the winning run as eighth-ranked Francis Marion University downed 21st-ranked Lincoln Memorial University 5-4, Sunday evening (Feb. 14) at the Lander University Valentine's Day Baseball Classic.

The win upped the Patriots' record to 4-1 and ended a long day for FMU, which beat Barry University 5-3 six hours earlier on Sunday.

Senior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in for Francis Marion, while sophomore left fielder Tyler Boyd was 2-for-5.  Senior right-hander Erik Sommerville (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the win, while senior righty Brandon Forshee tossed a perfect ninth to register his fourth consecutive save.

After LMU scored once in the top of the first, FMU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.  Kleinknecht and Jacob Wallace pounded RBI doubles, while Preston Shuey rapped an RBI single. 

Kleinknecht added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to up the Patriot advantage to 4-1.  LMU rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth, capitalizing on four walks issued by Patriots hurlers and only hit.

In the seventh, Kleinknecht singled, Josh Biggers walked, and Shuey was hit by a pitch setting the stage for Smith deciding at bat.

Cody Church (0-1) was the losing pitcher.  The two teams combined for 13 walks.  Five FMU pitchers limited LMU to only five hits.  FMU starter Josh Edgin pitched five innings and allowed three hits and one earned run.  Lefty Shane Gebhards bridged the gap between Sommerville and Forshee with a scoreless eighth inning.

FMU will play at St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

          Josh Smith