FLORENCE, S.C. -- Francis Marion picked up a pair of Peach Belt Conference victories over Augusta State Saturday afternoon at Cormell Field.
The 16th-ranked Patriots completed the series sweep over the Jaguars and improved to 24-8 overall and 9-3 in the PBC. The losses dropped ASU to 15-19 on the season and 7-8 in the league.
In the opener, the Patriots struck for nine runs in the first three innings en route to a 10-1 victory. FMU pounded out 16 hits to just five safeties for the Jaguars.
ASU starter Stephen Ramsey (0-2) was charged with eight hits and nine runs -- just four earned -- in 2.2 innings. Chase Johnston took over in the third and allowed six hits and a run and struck out four in 4.1 innings. Aaron Lewis worked a scoreless ninth.
Jaguar freshman Kevin Dodson managed an RBI-double as no Jaguar had more than one hit.
The Pats rallied for a 5-4 win in game two after ASU had pulled even with two runs in the sixth inning. Buddy Sosnoski's solo homer in the seventh proved to be the difference for FMU.
Dodson and senior Tristan Toorie booked two hits each and Jeff Rice had a double and drove in a pair of runs. Junior outfielder Caleb Saggus registered his PBC-leading 35th stolen base of the season.
ASU junior Patrick Lowe allowed 11 hits and four runs in 5.0 innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Fellow junior Wilson Taylor (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season, surrendering the go-ahead run and three hits in 3.0 innings of relief. He notched three strikeouts and a walk.
The Jags entertain USC Aiken in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:00 p.m., at Lake Olmstead Stadium.
