FLORENCE, SC – Senior shortstop
Rayth Petersen rapped out three hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs to propel unbeaten Francis Marion University to a 7-4 victory over Emory & Henry University, Friday evening (Feb. 7) in non-conference baseball action.
Francis Marion improves to 5-0 under first-year head coach
Jeff Jefferson, matching a 5-0 start in 2022. The two teams will conclude their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Sophomore first baseman
Charlie Bussey III also had multiple hits for FMU as he finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
A pair of first-inning errors by FMU led to an unearned run for Emory & Henry. Petersen got that run back in a hurry as he launched the first pitch in the bottom of the first over the left field wall.
The Patriots manufactured a run in the last of third when junior catcher
Dariel Villaran Goundis singled down the left field line, went to second on a ground out, stole third, and came home on a throwing error by the Wasps' catcher.
Emory & Henry regained the lead with three runs in the top of the sixth. First baseman Jacob Bebber and catcher Camden Bailey delivered run-scoring singles, and a run scored on an FMU throwing error.
Francis Marion responded immediately with four runs in its half of the sixth inning. FMU loaded the bases with no outs on a double by Bussey III and two walks. Wasps' reliever Jacob Iverson (0-1) retired the next two batters, but then walked Villaran Goundis to force in a run and narrow the margin to 4-3. Petersen followed with a single to right-center field that plated all three runners for a 6-4 Patriot lead.
Petersen added an insurance run with an RBI-single in the eighth.
FMU left-handed starter
Rijnaldo Euson (2-0) picked up the win with six innings of work. He allowed four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts.
Senior righty
Josh Adams stranded three Emory & Henry runners in the top of the seventh and pitched 2.2 innings of hitless relief to earn his second save of 2025.
Emory & Henry righty Jacob Nestor started and went five innings and surrendered four runs on six hits.
Francis Marion Univ. 7, Emory & Henry Univ. 4 (Feb 07, 2025 at Florence, SC)
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Emory & Henry Univ.. 100 003 000 - 4 6 1 (1-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 101 004 01X - 7 8 3 (5-0)
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Pitchers: Emory & Henry Univ. - Jacob Nester; Jacob Iverson(6); Billy Baxter(6) and
Camden Bailey. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rijnaldo Euson;
Braxton Elms IV(7);
Josh Adams(7) and
D. Villaran Goundis.
Win-
Rijnaldo Euson(2-0) Save-
Josh Adams(2) Loss-Jacob Iverson(0-1) T-2:47 A-207
HR FMU -
Rayth Petersen (1).
Weather: 78, fair, winds 6 mph W
Jacob Nester faced 2 batters in the 6th.
