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FLORENCE, S.C. – The 15th-ranked UNC Pembroke rallied back from a 7-5 deficit in the seventh inning with three runs in the final two frames to even its weekend series at Francis Marion with an 8-7 victory over the Patriots on Saturday afternoon at Sparrow Field.

The Braves (29-13, 14-9 PBC) have now won three of the last five matchups with the Patriots dating back to last season. The setback snapped a four-game winning skein for Francis Marion (22-18, 8-14).

Drew Cole clubbed his career-best fifth home run of the season to lead the way for UNCP, who also got a 3-for-5 outing from Brett Huffman. Chad Whitehead (2-for-3, RBI) registered a multi-hit outing for the visitors as well. Marquis Curry continued his torrid series at the plate for the Patriots, this time turning in a perfect 3-for-3 outing with a pair of runs scored.

Zach Andrews (3-5) grabbed his second decision of the weekend, this time picking up the win after yielding three hits and one earned run in 3-1/3 innings of relief. FMU closer Jeffrey Stoner (2-3) saddled the loss for the hosts after allowing three hits and an unearned run in 1-1/3 innings of work.

Down by one after five, the Braves plated a trio of runs on four hits to grab a 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth, but Francis Marion answered with three of their own to take back the momentum, and forge a 6-5 lead, in the bottom of the frame. The Patriots pushed their advantage out to 7-5 on Curry's RBI single in the seventh.

The Braves got consecutive two-out RBI singles from Daniel Fraga and Cole to tie the game up in the top of the eighth, and Andrews dodged a bullet in the bottom of the inning after allowing a leadoff single. Huffman's bloop single gave the visitors runners at the corners with two outs in the ninth, and an ill-timed fielding error moments later would allow Zade Denton to scurry home from third with the go-ahead run.

Andrews retired the sides in order in the final frame to slam the door on the win.

Sunday's series rubber game is slated for a 2 p.m. first pitch at Sparrow Stadium. Andy Sullivan (4-1, 3.09 ERA) is slated to take the hill for UNCP against Francis Marion's Spencer Jordan (2-3, 7.00).