FLORENCE, S.C. - Georgia Southwestern pitchers Jordan McIlwain and Mitch Holloway combined for a seven-hit shutout in Game 1 of Saturday's Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against Francis Marion University as the Hurricanes won, 3-0, at Sparrow Stadium before the hosts salvaged a split by taking the nightcap, 5-2.
GSW ended the day with an overall record of 23-22 and a mark of 6-20 in the PBC while Francis Marion sits at 25-20 overall, 12-14 in conference play.
The schools wrap up their weekend series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAME 1: GSW 3, FRANCIS MARION 0
The Hurricanes extended their winning streak to four games as Jordan McIlwain and Mitch Holloway shut out the Patriots in the opener.
Dakota Long delivered what would prove to be the game-winning hit in the first inning when his single through the right side brought around Evan Alderman.
Alex Kranick plated an insurance run in the seventh inning with a single through the left side that scored Devyn Newberry.
Newberry scored again in the ninth off a single from Alderman.
McIlwain (5-4) threw 116 pitches and went seven innings in the start before making way for Holloway. McIlwain scattered six hits hits, walked five and struck out three. Holloway held FMU to one hit over his two innings on the hill to pick up his fourth save of the spring. He walked three and struck out two.
Alderman and Long had two hits apiece to lead the Hurricanes.
Antonio Pino went 3-for-4 with a walk for FMU.
Fernando Pinillos (5-4) threw 117 pitches over 8 1/3 innings, allowed all three runs - two earned - and surrendered eight hits. He walked three and struck out seven. Daniel Barfield was called on to get the final two outs.
GAME 2: GSW 2, FRANCIS MARION 5
The Patriots scored a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fifth to hold off GSW in the nightcap.
Southwestern pulled to within a run of FMU in the fifth inning when Brandon Weaver doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Devyn Newberry sacrifice fly.
The Hurricanes final run of Game 2 came in the sixth when Zach Barron delivered his team-leading seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left center that cut the FMU lead to 4-2.
The Patriots added a run in the seventh.
GSW did not have a batter finish with multiple hits and Newberry saw his season-best 11-game hitting streak come to an end.
Brooks Kennedy, Randy Loew and Casey Clauss had two hits apiece to lead FMU. Loew added two RBIs and a walk.
Starting pitcher Kyle Spinks (0-3) was the tough-luck loser for GSW after throwing the opening five frames. Spinks allowed four runs, although only two were earned, walked two and struck out three. Earl Dupree gave up a run in two innings of relief and Chad Adkins tossed a scoreless eighth.
It was the first time GSW lost this spring (19-1) when holding its opponent to five or fewer runs.
Brandon Cook (5-3) held GSW to two runs over seven innings on the mound to pick up the win for FMU. He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out seven. Chance Ducharme closed things out with two scoreless frames and earned his first save of the season.