FLORENCE, S.C. | Francis Marion University scored the first six runs of the game as the Patriots defeated Young Harris College 12-2 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Friday (March 18) evening at Sparrow Stadium.

Francis Marion improved to 16-9 overall and to 4-6 in the league while the Mountain Lions fell to 8-16 and 2-10. The teams will play the middle game of their three-game series Saturday (March 19) at 3 p.m.

Casey Clauss ended the night 4-for-5 with an RBI, while Logan Koch went 4-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI as the Patriots collected 18 hits.  Brooks Kennedy was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and 2 RBI. 
                                                                             
Young Harris, which struck out 16 times, was led by Zach Wall and Chris McGinnis. They both finished the game 2-for-4. Wall drove in a run in the third on a one-out single through the left side. Eight of the nine starters for the Mountain Lions collected at least a hit as Young Harris registered 10 in the contest.
 
Fernando Pinillos (5-1) earned the win with eight strikeouts in six innings, while Jackson Winskie fell to 0-2 for the Mountain Lions.