Box Score FLORENCE, SC--Freshman shortstop Jason Weaver collected four hits and scored a pair of runs and junior right-hander Erin Jonestossed a five-hitter while striking out a career-high 14 batters as 21st-ranked Francis Marion University rallied to claim a 6-2 win over 22nd-ranked USC Aiken on Friday night (Feb. 28) in the opener of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series. 

Francis Marion snaps a three-game slide with the win and improves to 10-5 overall and 6-3 in the PBC, while USCA (10-7, 3-4) has its six-game winning streak stopped. 

The two squads will complete the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. on Cormell Field. 

USCA second baseman Demetrick Drumming hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to stake the Pacers to an early 2-0 lead.  For Drumming, it was his team-leading five homer of the young season.  However, Jones (4-1) then settled down and allowed only six baserunners over the final eight innings, and only two of those advanced as far as second base. 

Jones' strike out total was only three shy of the Patriot single-game record.  He walked only one batter. 

FMU scratched a run in the third inning, when Kenneth Yaeger walked, and three batters later, scored when USCA errored on a ball hit by Weaver.   The Patriots knotted the game at 2-2 in the fifth, when Weaver led off with a single and scored on a one-out double byHorace Reeves.  Weaver ended the game four-for-five with the two runs scored and one run batted in, and was the only Patriot with multiple hits. 

FMU took the lead with a three-run seventh inning.  Weaver again led off with a single, and after a Jerry Honeycutt single, both runners came around to score when Wilson Burwell reached on another USCA error.  Following a groundout, Burwell scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Phil Shantz.  The Patriots added an insurance run in the eighth when Weaver's double to left platedRichie Summey. 

USCA centerfielder Ashley Farr was the only Pacer to record multiple hits as he went two-for-three with a walk.  Pacer righty Mike Pomaville (2-2) pitched 6.2 innings and suffered the loss, although only one of the five runs he allowed was earned.  He was touched for seven hits and walked three while fanning five.