FLORENCE, SC – Junior centerfielder
Will Dorrell paced Francis Marion University as he had four hits, drove in four runs, and scored three times in 14-1 and 11-5 doubleheader victories over Tusculum University on Saturday (Feb. 1) afternoon in college baseball action.
The Patriots begin their season 3-0 and look to continue the win streak on Wednesday (Feb. 3) afternoon at home against Claflin University. The first pitch at Sparrow Stadium is set to be thrown at 1 p.m.
FMU senior right-fielder
Austin Bunn also had a standout day against the Pioneers, recording six runs scored, three hits, a home run, and two runs batted in. Senior second-baseman
Owen Taylor also led the Patriots with four RBIs.
In game one, junior right-handed pitcher
Robbie Jordan recorded his first win in a Patriots uniform since 2023 after missing last year with an injury. He threw five innings, allowing only one run on three hits. The Florence native fanned four out of the 20 batters he faced.
Miller Phillip was charged with the loss for Tusculum (0-3), facing 18 batters and totaling three strikeouts.
The Patriot offense generated momentum early in the opening game as junior third baseman
Jimmy Koza singling through the middle for a base hit. Dorrell quickly traded places with Koza as he doubled to left center for a 1-0 lead.
Despite the Pioneers tying the game at 1-1 in the top of the second, a homer sent deep down the left field line from Bunn gave Francis Marion another one-run advantage at 2-1. The Patriots would add three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, runs scored by junior first baseman
Charlie Bussey III, Bunn, and senior catcher
Caleb Oakley.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Dorrell started off the batting order with a single. Senior shortstop
Rayth Petersen and Bussey III were both hit by pitches to load the bases. A walk to Bunn and a two-run single from Oakley scored three more runs for the Patriots and a 8-1 lead.
Francis Marion continued on their offensive rampage in the bottom of the fifth as they plated six more runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Taylor and a two-run double by Bussey III, for a final score of 14-1. In all, FMU scored nine times on six hits.
In game two, Tusculum jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first two innings. A sacrifice fly by Taylor closed the margin to one run as Bunn scored. The Pioneers were able to plate one run in the top of the fourth inning to lead 3-1.
Back-to-back fielding errors by the Pioneers gave the Patriots a bases-loaded opportunity to knot the game and a single through the left side by Taylor scored both Bunn and Oakley.
Koza tallied an RBI as he plated senior
Noah Stout on a single to left field and then came home on another double from Dorrell. Before the inning wrapped up, Francis Marion led 6-3.
A bases-loaded walk to Stout in the bottom of fifth extended the margin to 7-3 before Bunn, Taylor, and Stout crossed home plate, the Patriots now holding a 10-3 lead. The final run for Francis Marion were delivered by Petersen who hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Koza.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Braxton Elms IV recorded his first win while throwing 1.2 innings and only allowing four hits and two runs. Although he was not credited with the win, junior right-handed hurler
Sam Duvall threw four innings while fanning three batters.
Bryce Anders (0-1) took the loss for Tusculum after pitching 3.1 innings and allowing five runs and five hits.
Francis Marion Univ. 14, Tusculum University 1 (Feb 01, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Tusculum University. 010 000 0 - 1 3 2 (0-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 110 390 X - 14 16 0 (2-0)
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Pitchers: Tusculum University - Phillip Miller; Mason Huffstickler(4); Payne Ladd(5) and
Avery Collins. Francis Marion Univ. -
Robbie Jordan;
Clayton Stewart(6) and D. Villaran Goundis;
Hunter Looper.
Win-
Robbie Jordan (1-0) Loss-Phillip Miller (0-1) T-2:25 A-253
HR FMU -
Austin Bunn (1).
Weather: 63, Sunny, Winds 8 mph NW
Francis Marion Univ. 11, Tusculum University 5 (Feb 01, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Tusculum University. 110 102 000 - 5 10 3 (0-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 010 550 00X - 11 8 0 (3-0)
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Pitchers: Tusculum University - Brice Anders; Caid Sanders(4); Hector Jaimes(5); Cooper Emery(5) and Jack Gagen. Francis Marion Univ. -
Sam Duvall;
Braxton Elms IV(5);
Daniel Barcena(6);
Daemon Woodruff(8) and
Caleb Oakley.
Win-
Braxton Elms IV (1-0) Loss-Brice Anders (0-1) T-3:12
HR TU - Max Schmarder.
Weather: 68, Sunny, winds 7 mph N
Caid Sanders faced 2 batters in the 5th.
H. Jaimes faced 2 batters in the 5th.
