FAYETTEVILLE, NC – The FM baseball team ended its spring-break road trip with a 4-3 win over the Methodist University JV on Thursday. A trio of FM pitchers held the Monarchs to three runs and six hits.

The nine-inning game was the Raiders' first night game of the season. The contest was played in good "spring break weather." The sunny afternoon had turned into a 58 degree evening at game time.

Photo, from left:  Pitchers Christian Maldonado, Michael Gravel, and James Holmes

The Raiders pushed a run across in the top of the first, but the home team matched that in their half of the inning. FM's hitters added one run in the third and two more in the fifth. Those four runs proved to be enough for the win, thanks to solid FM pitching and defense.

Gregory Ruddy and Christopher Rockefeller both stroked a pair of hits, with Rockefeller banging out a double. Freshman leftie Joe Nellis lashed a timely two-run single.

The Raiders were to have continued their season this weekend with a four-game series versus Clinton CC, but the long-lasting winter forced postponement of those games. FM's first game of their northern schedule is now scheduled for next Tuesday, April 1, at Columbia-Greene CC. The first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.

FMCC   101 020 000   4-7-1

MU JV   100 000 020   3-6-3

Maldonado, Gravel (6), Holmes (8) and Houser; Lenoir, Tulledge (6), Shumate (8) and Naibeck

Preseason photo gallery

A preseason photo gallery is now available. It can be accessed via baseball's Multimedia page or by clicking here.

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