Mr. Smith goes to right and Patriots beat West Chester 6-5 in 13 innings

FLORENCE, SC - Senior outfielder Josh Smith delivered a two-out single to right field in the bottom of the 13th inning to score Chris Honeycutt and give seventh-ranked Francis Marion University a 6-5 victory over seventh-ranked West Chester University, Sunday afternoon (Feb. 21) in non-conference baseball action.

The outcome gave FMU a 2-to-1 series win in the battle of two of the three teams tied for the seventh position in the latest Top 30 poll.

Francis Marion (8-2) will play at Newberry College on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Outfielder Graham Couch, first baseman Preston Shuey, and infielder Tyler Cappelmann all had two hits for Francis Marion.  Shuey also drove in a pair of runs and extended his hitting streak to seven games. 

FMU senior Barrett Kleinknecht, 0-for-4 at the plate with three walks and a run scored, moved from shortstop to the mound and collected the win.  He pitched 2.2 innings and allowed only two hits and no runs.  He pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the top of the 12th inning.

In the bottom of the 13th frame, West Chester right-hander Joe Opalka (0-1) retired the first two Patriot batters.  Honeycutt then doubled to center field and catcher Logan Bland walked, before Smith recorded the game-winning hit.

Four players had multiple hits for the Golden Rams: left fielder Kevin McGrath 2-for-4 with a run scored, second baseman Joe Wendle 2-fo-6 with a run scored, catcher Bob Stumpo 2-for-4, and designated hitter Matt Baer 2-for-6 with an RBI.

West Chester rallied from a 5-3 deficit against Patriot closer Brandon Forshee with two runs in the ninth inning.  One run scored on a wild pitch and Charlie Kelly brought in the tying run with an RBI groundout.  Forshee had been 4-for-4 in save opportunities.

Left-hander Jeremiah Meiners started for FMU and allowed two earned runs on six hits in five innings.  Patriot left fielder Tyler Boyd was 0-for-4 and saw his season-long, 9-game hitting streak snapped.

West Chester starter Jordan Lehman went four frames and allowed only two earned runs on four hits.

                   Josh Smith