DUE WEST, SC – Senior first baseman Riley Orr and junior designated hitter Ethan McAnally combined for eight hits, 11 runs batted in, and six runs scored as sixth-ranked Francis Marion University won a high-scoring affair 19-15 over Erskine College in Conference Carolinas baseball action on Friday afternoon (April 17).

Francis Marion extended its winning streak to seven-straight while improving to 36-8 overall with a 23-5 mark in league play. The Patriots continue their three-game series against the Flying Fleet on Saturday, April 18, with a doubleheader scheduled at noon.

Orr went 4-for-5 at the plate with a homer, a double, six runs batted in, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. McAnally finished 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, five RBIs, four runs scored, and a stolen base. Redshirt junior center fielder Charlie Bussey III reached base five times after recording four walks, a homer, two runs batted in, and four runs scored.

Erskine established the early lead in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of home runs to take a 3-0 edge.

Francis Marion immediately countered in the top of the second after scoring six runs on five hits, all coming with two outs in the frame. With two runners in scoring position, senior right fielder Jimmy Koza laced an RBI single up the middle before another run scored on a throwing error, 3-2. McAnally put FMU in front with a two-run double to right-center before Orr followed with an RBI double to left field to take a 5-3 lead. Senior left fielder Will Dorrell capped off the inning with an RBI single to right field, 6-3.

The Flying Fleet managed to cut the deficit to two runs in the bottom half of the second after hitting a sacrifice fly to left field following a leadoff triple.

In the top of the third, the Patriots delivered a five-run inning, highlighted by a record-setting 404-foot three-run homer to left field by McAnally. That blast helped set two single-season Patriot records: most homers (16) and most RBIs (70).  The old marks of 15 homers and 67 RBIs were held by Tim Dockery (1998) and Preston Shuey (2011), respectively.

Erskine belted a solo homer to left field, its third of the game, to trim the deficit to 11-5 following four innings of play.

Francis Marion erupted for another five runs in the fifth to extend the lead to double-figures, 16-5. Bussey III launched a two-run homer, his 15th home run of the season, to left field, which traveled 438 feet. Following a single by McAnally, Orr hit a two-run homer to left, his 11th of the year. Later in the frame, redshirt junior catcher Zander Buchan recorded an RBI single to right-center following a double by Dorrell.

The Flying Fleet managed one run in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to center field, 16-6.

After a scoreless sixth, Erskine closed the gap to 16-10 after totaling four runs on five hits in the bottom of the seventh.

Orr provided a response for the Patriots in the eighth with a three-run single to stretch their advantage to 19-10.

Despite Erskine scoring five runs in the final two innings, Francis Marion secured Game 1 by a 19-15 margin.

Freshman Garrett Long (3-1) earned the win in his first appearance on the mound in over two months after missing time due to an injury. He allowed four runs on three hits with two walks in 1.0 inning pitched (30 pitches).

Redshirt freshman Owen Powell delivered an extended relief appearance after tossing 6.0 innings (83 pitches). He yielded six earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Alex Heintz (0-1) of Erskine was saddled with the loss.

Francis Marion has previously this year set season marks for homers (66) and runs scored (521).