AIKEN, SC – Senior shortstop Rayth Petersen paced 18th-ranked Francis Marion University with three hits and two runs driven in as the Patriots collected their 12th consecutive win with an 11-1 road victory over USC Aiken on Tuesday (Apr. 8) evening.

The Patriots move to 31-9 before resuming Conference Carolinas league action against I-95 rival UNC Pembroke on Friday (Apr. 11) afternoon at 4 p.m.  Due to construction on the campus of UNCP, the three-game series will take place at CarolinaBank Field at the  Florence Sports Complex.

FMU's winning streak is five shy of the school record set in 2009.

Senior right-handed pitcher Daniel Barcena (3-1) held USC Aiken to just five hits in six innings, while fanning six and walking one.

FMU junior third baseman Jimmy Koza chipped in one of the team's six RBIs on two hits, while senior designated hitter Noah Stout added a pair of hits and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Will Dorrell also successfully extended his on-base streak to 30 games, while being one of five Patriots to record one hit respectively.

FMU struck in the top of the second as senior second baseman Owen Taylor hit a two-out single that scored Stout and put the Patriots in front 1-0.

Francis Marion held the one-run advantage until a five-run burst in the top of the fourth. Senior right-fielder Austin Bunn and Koza both drove in one run with hits before an error by USCA's Eliud Poventud allowed two more to score for a 4-0 advantage.

The final two runs of the innings were plated by Petersen as he cleared the bases with a two-out triple to right-center.

Donovan Glisson drove in the lone run for the Pacers (16-23) with a base hit that scored Jack Hobson in the bottom of the fourth that cut the deficit to 6-1.

FMU continued to widen the margin in the top of the fifth and sixth innings as the Patriots scored another five insurance runs for the 11-1 run-rule decision.

Blayne Newman falls to a record of 0-6 after allowing three hits and one run with five strikeouts.