DUE WEST, SC – Senior shortstop Rayth Petersen notched a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning and later recorded his third save during Francis Marion University's 4-2 non-conference win over Erskine College on Tuesday (Apr. 15) afternoon.
 
Francis Marion improves to an overall record of 33-11 and will host Chowan University for a three-game Conference Carolinas series beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday (Apr. 18) and concluding with a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
Alongside Petersen's lone hit, senior designated hitter Noah Stout and sophomore first baseman Charlie Bussey III tallied one hit apiece as Flying Fleet pitchers limited FMU to only three hits.
 
Patriot senior right-hander Josh Adams (4-1) gave up three hits and one unearned run over four innings. In freshman left-hander Jackson Madden's two-inning appearance, he tied his career high of four strikeouts previously set at Young Harris College. 
 
After blanking Francis Marion for three innings, the Flying Fleet (18-25) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third as Dylan Wanat hit an RBI-single to centerfield and plated Mason McManus.
 
With the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fifth, FMU junior catcher Dariel Villaran Goundis drove in the Patriots' first run as he was hit by a pitch. Senior second baseman Owen Taylor plated Stout with the go-ahead run before Petersen's two-out two-run single.
 
Francis Marion chased Erskine's starting pitcher, Eli Botelle (0-1) from the mound in the fifth as he gave up two hits and two runs.
 
Erskine cut into the three-run deficit in the lower half of the frame and trailed 4-2 after Jorge Pascual's RBI single.
 
Petersen moved from shortstop to the mound in the bottom of the ninth and retired the Flying Fleet in order – with one strikeout – to secure the road win.