Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MOUNT OLIVE, NC – Senior southpaw Rijnaldo Euson fanned 11 batters during game two of Francis Marion University's 12-0 and 4-3 split with #11 ranked University of Mount Olive on Friday (Feb. 14) afternoon to open Conference Carolinas league play. 

The Patriots (10-1, 1-1) will return to Mount Olive to finish the three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 15) afternoon at 12 p.m.

Junior right-handed hurler Robbie Jordan (2-1) was tagged with the loss after throwing 3.1 innings and recording three strikeouts. Junior right-handed pitcher Sam Duvall also recorded three strikeouts in 3.2 innings while junior right hander Tyson Hall made his first appearance of the season.  

Mount Olive (6-3, 1-1) jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning with a double from Mike Kenney that plated two runs. The Trojans held the lead for the entirety of the game.

Senior left-fielder Caleb Oakley, senior right fielder Austin Bunn, junior center-fielder Will Dorrell, senior second baseman Owen Taylor, and senior designated hitter Noah Stout each tallied one hit apiece in game one. 

The Trojans outhit the Patriots 12-5 during game one. 

John Horton (1-0) picked up his first win as he threw seven innings while allowing only two hits and fanning three batters.

Junior first baseman Charlie Bussey III drove in two of the Patriots four runs as senior shortstop Rayth Petersen almost completed a full cycle with a single, double, and triple in game two.

UMO took another early lead as Jahkari Howard drove in a run in the bottom of the first.

The Patriots answered in the top of the second inning with a groundout from junior third baseman Jimmy Koza that scored Stout to knot the game 1-1. Mount Olive assumed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second as Kayden Crawford scored on a wild pitch.

Petersen led off the top of the third inning with a double down the left-field line. He quickly moved up to third base as Bunn flied out to left field and later scored on a wild pitch to put the game in a 2-2 stalemate. 

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth, Petersen tripled on the first pitch delivered to him. Bunn was then hit by a pitch that put runners on the corners, and both were shortly brought home as Bussey III drove in two insurance runs for a 4-2 advantage.

The Trojans attempted to tie the score once again as Mac James crossed home plate in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Patriots retired the side to hold on to their 4-3 lead. 

Euson (3-0) sets a new career high of 11 strikeouts in seven innings while allowing six hits and only walking one batter. Carson Gipson (0-1) was credited the loss after 4.2 innings and allowing four hits.