Shuey's 9th-inning hit keys #8 Patriots past Barry 5-3

GREENWOOD, SC - Junior first baseman Preston Shuey drilled a two-out, two-run single in the top of the ninth inning to snap a tie and give eighth-ranked Francis Marion University a 5-3 win over Barry University, Sunday morning (Feb. 14) at the Lander University Valentine's Day Baseball Classic.

The Patriots improve to 3-1 and will face 21st-ranked Lincoln Memorial University later on Sunday at 4 p.m.

Shuey led FMU at the plate with a 3-for-5 effort, while senior catcher Logan Bland was 2-for-5.  Senior shortstop Barrett Kleinknecht was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a two-run homer in the third inning.

Trailing 3-2 entering their final at bat, the Patriots rallied for three runs to make a winner of reliever Patrick Mincey (1-0).  Alex Lee led off with a single and moved to second when Kleinknecht walked.  After a strikeout, Tyler Boyd loaded the bases with an infield single.  Lee then scored on a passed ball, while Kleinknecht and Boyd moved up a base.  Kleinknecht was forced to hold at third on a groundout to short, but Shuey came to the rescue with his two-out hit to center field scoring both runners.

Senior right-handed closer Brandon Forshee came on to pitch the ninth inning, and despite allowing a walk and a single, kept Barry off the scoreboard to record his third save of 2010.

Kleinknecht's homer gave FMU a 2-0 lead, but walks helped Barry tie the score.  A pair of bases-on-balls helped lead to a single run in the bottom of the third, and a walk in the bottom of the fourth helped lead to an unearned run.  Another walk helped Barry take a 3-2 lead in the last of the eighth, a tally that scored on a two-out single to center.

Mincey pitched 4.1 innings in relief of starter Zane Petty and allowed only two hits and one run.