ORANGEBURG, SC – Junior centerfielder
Will Dorrell paced Francis Marion University with three hits, three runs batted in, and three runs scored in a 23-2 defeat of Claflin University on Tuesday (Feb. 18) afternoon in non-conference baseball action.
Francis Marion (10-2) will host Barton College for a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon in Sparrow Stadium.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Braxton Elms IV improved to a record of 2-0 after throwing five innings and striking out six.
Francis Marion outhit Claflin 16-5, with senior left fielder
Caleb Oakley collecting four hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Senior shortstop
Rayth Petersen (1), sophomore first baseman
Charlie Bussey III (1), Oakley (1), senior second baseman
Owen Taylor (2), and junior third baseman
Jimmy Koza (2) combined for seven stolen bases.
Third baseman Chase Jackson led the Panthers (4-3-1) with two hits and one run scored.
Francis Marion was the first to strike after four scoreless innings. Back at the top of the batting order, Petersen singled through the gap and was shortly brought home as Dorrell doubled into right-center.
With two outs and a runner on third, senior right-fielder
Austin Bunn homered deep over the left field wall for a 3-0 advantage.
The Patriots loaded the bases in the top of the seventh inning with one out. Oakley hit a deep shot into centerfield that allowed Petersen to tag up and score for a 4-1 lead. Taylor shortly drove in Bunn and Bussey III with a double through the left side to widen the margin to 6-1.
Freshman outfielder
Adrian Nina, who finished with three hits and three RBIs, started off the top of the eighth inning with a single before Petersen was walked to put runners at first and second. Another double from Dorrell scored Nina and Petersen to take the Patriots up 8-1.
Bussey III opened the gap even more for Francis Marion as he homered to drive in three runs for an 11-1 margin. The Patriots were able to score two more runs to lead 13-1 before the top of the eighth was finished.
In the top of the ninth inning, Francis Marion scored 10 unanswered runs before the final three outs were recorded.
Xavier Campbell (0-1) was tagged with the loss while also throwing five innings and fanning six.
