GREENWOOD, SC – Senior right-handed pitcher Daniel Barcena held Lander University to two hits and two runs over 5.2 innings while striking out a career-high nine batters during 21st-ranked Francis Marion University's 9-3 win on Tuesday (Apr. 1) evening.

Francis Marion (27-9) runs its winning streak to eight games.  The Patriots will host Emmanuel University on Friday (Apr. 4) at 6 p.m. to resume Conference Carolinas league action.

Barcena improves his overall record to 2-1. Senior right-hander Josh Adams also tallied his third save of the season, while allowing two hits and fanning six batters over the 3.1 innings.

FMU sophomore first baseman Charlie Bussey III paced Francis Marion with a homer, two runs batted in, and four runs scored, while senior second baseman Owen Taylor tallied his 13th mutli-hit game with three of the team's 11 hits.  Taylor also extended his hitting streak to eight games. 

Junior catcher Dariel Villaran Goundis was the final Patriot to chip in another pair of hits and one RBI. 

Garrett Chun paced the Bearcats (24-11) with two hits, one RBI, and one run scored.  

Behind a walk for Bussey III, junior center fielder Will Dorrell drove in the first run with a two-out double for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.  Dorrell has safely reached base in each of the past 26 games.

FMU blanked the Bearcats in the first and second innings before posting another four runs in the top of the third. The four-run spurt began with a balk from Lander's pitcher Anson Merrick (1-1) that scored Bussey III to get Francis Marion ahead 2-0.

Senior left fielder Caleb Oakley then hit an RBI-groundout, senior designated hitter Noah Stout homered, and Villaran Goundis hit an RBI-single to lift the Patriots to a 5-0 lead in the third.

Taylor started off the fourth frame with a double down the left-field line. Immediately following Taylor's at bat, Bussey III laced a hit over the wall in centerfield and extended the Patriots lead to 7-0.

After three scoreless innings, the Bearcats cut into the seven-run deficit as Garrett Chun homered in the bottom of the fourth.

FMU scored another run in the top of the sixth on a wild pitch for an 8-1 advantage. A bases loaded walk to senior shortstop Rayth Petersen in the top of the seventh brought in another run for Francis Marion and widened the margin the 9-2.

Lander was able to get one more run across in the bottom of the seventh.

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Francis Marion...... 104 201 100  -  9 11  0      (27-9)

Lander................... 000 101 100  -  3  4  0      (24-11)

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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Daniel Barcena; Josh Adams(6) and Dariel Villaran Goundis and Caleb Oakley(7). Lander - A. Merrick;

J. Sanchez(3); T. Bowen(5); B. Sloper(6); J. Bryant(6); N. Winterhal(7); K. Rogers(7);

E. Demurias(9) and Lopez Jr..

Win-Daniel Barcena (2-1)  Save-Josh Adams (3)  Loss-A. Merrick (1-1)  T-3:20  A-205

HR FMU - Charlie Bussey III; N. Stout.

HR LANDER - G. Chun.

Weather: Beautiful