FLORENCE, SC – Redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Robbie Jordan achieved history on Friday (April 10) after becoming the all-time FMU wins leader, as No. 7-ranked Francis Marion University collected a 9-3 win over Ferrum College in the series opener at Sparrow Stadium in Conference Carolinas play.

The Patriots improve to 32-8 overall with an impressive 20-5 mark in league competition. FMU was ranked second in the first KPI rankings released by the conference office this week, which determines tournament seeding. The three-game series continues on Saturday (April 11) as Francis Marion celebrates Senior Day and Youth Day at the ballpark, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Jordan, a native of Florence, S.C., was scheduled for just 1.0 inning of work on the mound on Friday and delivered a scoreless frame to capture the win (9-1). With the victory, Jordan claims the all-time wins record after improving his career record to 30-8 in 52 starts for the Patriots. He surpasses the previous mark held by Erin Jones (2002-04) of 29 wins.

Sophomore Tyler Skeen entered in relief and allowed two earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk in 5.0 innings pitched (69 pitches). Redshirt junior Zeph Arnold earned the save after yielding one earned run on one hit with three strikeouts and two walks in 3.0 innings (47 pitches).

At the plate, senior first baseman Riley Orr finished 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, one walk, and two stolen bases. Junior second baseman Brandon Vargas went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one stolen base. Junior designated hitter Ethan McAnally delivered a three-run homer, totaled four runs batted in, and scored two runs.

In the bottom of the first, the Patriots tallied a pair of walks before moving into scoring position with stolen bases. The next at-bat, Orr laced a two-run single through the left side to take a 1-0 edge before FMU scored another run following a throwing error by the shortstop, 3-0.

Francis Marion added to its lead in the second frame as McAnally launched a three-run homer over the scoreboard in left field, his team-leading 14th of the season, to establish a 6-0 lead.

Ferrum (16-20, 8-17) cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to left field to trail by a 6-1 margin. FMU answered in the bottom half of the inning following an RBI sacrifice fly by McAnally to center field to reclaim a six-run lead, 7-1.

The Panthers tallied another run in the top of the fifth with a solo homer to right field, 7-2.

FMU scored two more runs in the final four frames, highlighted by an RBI sacrifice fly to center field from Orr to increase the lead to 9-2. Ferrum registered another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double, but the Patriots ultimately secured the 9-3 win.

Jai Penn (0-5) of Ferrum was saddled with the loss.