FLORENCE, SC – Senior right fielder
Austin Bunn slammed a three run-homer to extend Francis Marion University's win streak to six games after defeating King University with a 5-3 and 13-8 conference sweep on Saturday (Mar. 8) afternoon.
The Patriots (17-6, 7-5) hosts Wingate University on Tuesday, March 11, in a non-conference match-up starting at 2 p.m.
Senior southpaw
Rijnaldo Euson keeps his perfect record of 6-0 following the 13-8 game-two victory and even added his first save as he came into game one in relief of junior right-hander
Robbie Jordan. Jordan (3-1) also claimed a win during game one, throwing five complete innings and fanning six.
FMU sophomore first baseman
Charlie Bussey III sets a new career high of three hits in one game, while junior third baseman
Jimmy Koza chipped in a pair of hits and three RBIs.
Following a scoreless first inning from both teams, FMU jumped ahead 2-0 as senior left-fielder
Caleb Oakley and Bussey III crossed home plate.
King (4-18, 2-10) deadlocked game at 2-2 in the top of the second and then took the lead back as the Tornado drove in one during the third.
Bussey III singled to right field to begin the third inning and then moved up 90 feet to second as senior shortstop
Rayth Petersen flied out to left field. A double by junior center fielder
Will Dorrell allowed Bussey III to tie the game yet again, this time at 3-3.
Oakley led off the top of the fifth with his fifth double of the season and was soon brought home by Bussey III to hold a 4-3 advantage. The Tornado was unable to answer and allowed FMU to add an insurance run in the sixth to coast to a final score of 5-3.
Corbin Dickenson (1-4) picked up the loss after allowing eight hits, five runs, and striking out three.
Francis Marion started off game two scoring two runs to get in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first. King responded immediately and took the lead over as the Tornado scored four runs in the top of the second.
Junior catcher
Dariel Villaran Goundis began the bottom of the second with a double and moved up to third on a wild pitch. Koza laced a triple into right field to drive in a run. Another base hit, this time from
Tyler Reynolds, plated Koza and allowed the Patriots to knot the score 4-4.
King broke the tie to go up 6-4 in the third frame and held that lead until Bunn's home run drove in Dorrell and Oakley.
The Tornado was able to cut the margin back to 8-7 as Michael Starrs homered to left field in the seventh inning.
Francis Marion used their eighth inning to swing momentum in the Patriots' favor as five runs crossed home plate. Petersen was able to drive in a run with a base hit up the middle. With Petersen on second and two outs, senior second baseman
Owen Taylor laced a hit over the wall in left field that cleared the bases and extended FMU's lead to 11-7.
King was able to escape the eighth inning but not before Francis Marion could tally five runs and four hits that would put the Tornado in a 13-7 deficit.
Cole Pletcher (0-5) was tagged with game two's loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth.
Francis Marion Univ. 5, King University TN 3 (Mar 08, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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King University TN.. 021 000 0 - 3 6 3 (4-17, 2-9 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 201 011 X - 5 8 2 (16-6, 6-5 CC)
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Pitchers: King University TN - Corbin Dickenson and Levi Medford. Francis Marion Univ. -
Robbie Jordan;
Rijnaldo Euson(6) and
Caleb Oakley.
Win-
Robbie Jordan(3-1) Save-
Rijnaldo Euson(1) Loss-Corbin Dickenson(1-4) T-2 A-213
Weather: 74, Sunny, winds 14 mph WSW
Francis Marion Univ. 13, King University TN 8 (Mar 08, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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King University TN.. 042 000 101 - 8 9 4 (4-18, 2-10 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 220 004 05X - 13 12 0 (17-6, 7-5 CC)
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Pitchers: King University TN - Tanner Hunley; Cole Pletcher(4); Caleb Green(6);
Connor Haynes(7); Jonathan Webster(8) and Nathan Borchardt. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rijnaldo Euson;
Daemon Woodruff(8);
Jackson Madden(9) and D. Villaran Goundis.
Win-
Rijnaldo Euson (6-0) Loss-Cole Pletcher (0-5) T-3:17
HR KING - Michael Starrs (6); Joey Amunategui III (3); Turner Stout (1); Daniel Hicks (1); Levi Medford (3).
HR FMU -
Austin Bunn (6);
Owen Taylor (2).
Weather: 79, Sunny, winds 15 mph W
