Francis Marion cashes in MOC errors

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 11, 2005 2:04 PM

• Print
• Email

MOUNT OLIVE -- Wade Jordan pitched six innings of relief to lead No. 28-ranked Francis Marion (S.C.) University to an 11-6 victory over Mount Olive Thursday afternoon at Scarborough Field.

The Trojans outhit Francis Marion 15-10, but committed five errors which led to seven unearned runs.

Francis Marion (15-6-1) scored three runs in the top of the first inning, all with two outs after an error kept the inning alive. Mount Olive (11-14) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first when Jonathan Pullen drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

FMU used a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch and another two-out error to add three more runs in the second.

After Dustin Richardson doubled and Ricky Davis walked to open the bottom of the second inning, Jordan entered the game for starter Dusty Floyd and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced. Francis Marion extended the lead to 8-1 with two runs in the top of the fifth as Owen Brittle, Alex Blake and Justin Greene all bunted their way on to load the bases with nobody out.

Trailing 9-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, Anthony Williams led off with a single up the middle and scored on Stephen Nordan's one-out opposite field double down the left field line.

Josh Carter followed with his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left-field fence to pull the Trojans within 9-5. Mike Ward hit a solo home run, his first of the season, in the top of the eighth for Francis Marion and both teams added a run in the ninth to close out the scoring.

Mount Olive starter Blake Montgomery (0-2) took the loss, allowing six runs (four unearned) before coming out in the second inning. Daniel Wood pitched five innings of relief, giving up two runs (one unearned) and four hits with two strikeouts and one walk. John Pearson pitched the final three innings for the Trojans, who lost their fifth in a row.

Jordan (1-0) struck out three and allowed nine hits, four coming in the three-run seventh inning. Mike Williams pitched the final two innings.

Francis Marion has won seven of its last eight games.

Mount Olive returns to action this weekend as the Trojans travel to Belmont for a three-game NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference series at Belmont Abbey. The two teams play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at noon and conclude the series with a single game Sunday at 1 p.m.