FLORENCE, S.C. – Junior lefty Mike Guinane (Glenview, Ill.) baffled hitters for eight innings Saturday, as Georgia College baseball (15-10, 7-4 PBC) split with Francis Marion University (18-10, 8-6 PBC) following a 17-5 loss with a 4-0 win.

Guinane (1-3) scattered just five hits in eight shutout innings, fanning five and walking a pair. Matt LaMothe (Troy, Mich.) got the final three outs via strikeout to complete the shutout. Spencer Jordan (4-2) was the hard-luck loser, allowing three runs in six innings.

GC got a run in the first, two in the fifth and another in the ninth to close it out. Rightfielder Bryce Williams (Manhattan, Kan.) was the lone multi-hit performer at 2-for-3, while Patrick Daugherty (Kennesaw, Ga.), Travis Echols (Suwanee, Ga.), Cody Maas (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Clay Ardeeser (Loganville, Ga.) each recorded RBI.

In game one, the Bobcats couldn't keep up with FMU's firepower, as the Patriots scored runs in all but one offensive inning. FMU compiled 17 runs on 18 hits, taking advantage of six GC walks and two Bobcat errors.

Senior righty Derek McGowan (Raytown, Mo.) took the loss (2-4), throwing the first two innings. FMU starter Jeffrey Stoner (4-1) went six frames in the win.

For GC, the offensive star was shortstop Tanner Funk (Kearney, Mo.) going 3-for-5 with an RBI and run. Daugherty and leftfielder Josh Young (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) each had two hits, Daugherty plating a run and Young scoring one.

The series still hangs in the balance of a single game tomorrow, March 18 at 1 p.m.

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