Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

FLORENCE – A three-run third inning and a two-run seventh inning helped Francis Marion knock off South Carolina 5-4 on Wednesday.  It was the Patriots' first game in brand-new Cormell Field at Sparrow Stadium in Florence.

FMU, currently ranked No. 20 in Collegiate Baseball’s Division II poll, improved to 27-13 while the loss dropped South Carolina to 24-10 for the season.

With Carolina trailing 5-3 entering the top of the ninth, USC's Grayson Greiner drew a one-out walk and L.B. Dantzler singled.  Pinch-hitter Kyle Martin would drive in Greiner with a RBI groundout.  With pinch runner Patrick Harrington on second base in scoring position, pinch hitter Sean Sullivan hit a liner to right field that was snagged by FMU’s Jarrod Reed to seal the victory for the Patriots, only their third ever win against South Carolina.

Francis Marion starter Matt Broderick picked up the win and is now 6-1 on the year.  He worked five innings and allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts.  South Carolina starter Adam Westmoreland suffered the loss and is now 2-1 on the year.  He allowed three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings with no walks and one strikeout.

Francis Marion grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on the back of four consecutive two-out hits and a wild pitch.

South Carolina answered in the top of the fourth inning on Christian Walker’s seventh home run of the season.  Dante Rosenberg's RBI single in the fifth cut the lead to 3-2.

Francis Marion added some insurance in the seventh inning.  With the bases loaded and two outs, Stephen Tarkenton bounced an RBI base hit up the middle to score a pair of runners and increase the lead to 5-2.

Walker's RBI single in the top of the eighth cut the lead to 5-3, but the Gamecocks left runners on first and third to end the frame.

South Carolina returns home for a three-game SEC series this weekend against Mississippi State at Carolina Stadium.  First pitch for the opener on Friday night is set for 7 p.m.