FLORENCE, SC - Senior left-hander
Rijnaldo Euson pitched six scoreless innings in his Patriot debut and senior shortstop
Rayth Petersen had two hits and scored twice as Francis Marion University downed Tusculum University 5-2, Friday afternoon (Jan. 31) in the inaugural game for new FMU head coach
Jeff Jefferson.
Francis Marion and Tusculum will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Sparrow Stadium.
Jefferson is only the third head coach in the 53-year history of the Patriot program and he opens with a victory, same as his predecessor Art Inabinet did in 2001.
Euson (1-0), a pre-season All-American by two organizations, yielded only three hits, while fanning four and walking two. He worked out of a one-out bases-loaded jam in the fourth, prior to FMU scoring in the bottom of the frame.
Patriot junior third baseman
Jimmy Koza drove in the first run of the 2024 season with a two-out bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning.
The advantage increased to 3-0 in the fifth. Petersen flared a lead-off single down the right field line and sophomore first baseman
Charlie Bussey III followed with an RBI-double down the left field line. Bussey III moved to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch.
Francis Marion manufactured two runs in the seventh to go up 5-0. Petersen singled to right center, stole second, went to third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, senior catcher
Caleb Oakley, a product of Pee Dee Academy, walked, stole second, and scored on a throwing error.
FMU senior righty
Josh Adams pitched the final three innings and allowed the two Pioneer runs, but earned the save, the seventh of his career. He registered three strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
Senior righty Luke Absher (0-1) took the loss despite surrendering only one run in four innings of work.
Shortstop Ben Scartz had two hits for Tusculum, including an RBI-double in the eighth.
Francis Marion Univ. 5, Tusculum University 2 (Jan 31, 2025 at Florence, SC)
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Tusculum University. 000 000 020 - 2 7 3 (0-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 120 20X - 5 7 1 (1-0)
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Pitchers: Tusculum University - Luke Absher; Luke Maicon(5); Scout Martin(8) and Anthony Cobb; Avery Collins. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rijnaldo Euson;
Josh Adams(7) and
Caleb Oakley.
Win-
Rijnaldo Euson (1-0) Save-
Josh Adams (1) Loss-Luke Absher (0-1) T-2:23 A-203
Weather: 65, cloudy, winds 9 mph SW
