FLORENCE, SC –  Sophomore first baseman Charlie Bussey III doubled twice and drove in five runs and Francis Marion University scored 10 times in the sixth inning and cruised to a 17-4 win over previously unbeaten Claflin University, Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 5) in non-conference baseball action.
 
Francis Marion (4-0) will host Emory & Henry University for a three-game series this weekend, beginning with a single game on Friday at 4 p.m.
 
Senior second baseman Owen Taylor led FMU with three hits, including a double, and he drove in three runs.  In addition to Bussey III, junior catcher Hunter Looper also had two hits, while driving in two runs.
 
The first three FMU batters of the game all walked before senior shortstop Rayth Petersen drove in the game's first run when he was hit by a pitch.  One batter later, Bussey III cleared the bases with a three-run double.  Freshman pinch hitter Adrian Nina plated the Patriots' fifth run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.  Altogether eight FMU batters were hit in the game, setting a new program mark.
 
Trailing 5-0, Claflin answered with a trio of runs in the top of the second, highlighted by a two-run single up the middle by right fielder Albert Rutledge.  He and catcher D.J. Mungenast led Claflin (3-1) with two hits apiece.
 
Senior right-hander Danny Leo (1-0) started for Francis Marion, went six innings, and was credited with the win.  After the second inning, he recovered to retire 10 batters in a row – including striking out the side in the fifth.
 
FMU left the bases loaded in the fourth as the score remained a two-run margin, 5-3.  In the bottom of the fifth, Taylor singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and came home on an RBI-single to left by Looper to up the lead to 6-3.
 
Just after making a diving catch in shallow center field, senior center fielder Caleb Oakley plated a seventh run with a fielder's choice grounder in the sixth frame.  Another run scored on a Panther error and Taylor drilled an RBI-double to deep left field as FMU doubled its advantage to 9-3.  Looper then drove home Taylor with an RBI-single for the second consecutive inning.  The lead grew to 16-3 with six more runs in the frame, including a two-run double to center by Bussey III and a two-run single through the left side by Taylor.
 
FMU also stole 10 bases in 10 attempts.
 
Claflin starter Tyson Carter (0-1) was tagged with the loss.