DUE WEST, SC – Redshirt junior outfielder Charlie Bussey III became the all-time home runs leader in program history on Saturday (April 18) as sixth-ranked Francis Marion University split a doubleheader at Erskine College in Conference Carolinas play, losing the opener 14-9 before winning the second game (and rubber game of the series) by a final of 25-9.

The Patriots (37-9, 24-6) will play their final scheduled home game of the 2026 season on Tuesday, April 21, versus USC Aiken, with first pitch at Sparrow Stadium scheduled for 6 p.m.

Bussey III eclipsed a nearly 40-year-old record after hitting two blasts on Saturday to reach 31 career homers at Francis Marion. He surpassed the previous mark (30) held by Jeff Parson (1987-90) following a ninth-inning grand slam in game two.

In Saturday's first game, Bussey III reached base five times after going 2-for-2 with a homer, two runs batted in, three runs scored, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. Senior second baseman Jimmy Koza went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, a stolen base, and two hit-by-pitches. Junior third baseman Brandon Vargas also registered a multi-hit performance with one RBI and one run scored.

In the top of the first, Bussey III belted a record-tying two-run homer to right field to give the Patriots an early 2-0 lead. 

Francis Marion increased the lead to 4-0 in the top of the second following a sacrifice fly by freshman shortstop Logan Davis and an RBI walk from junior designated hitter Ethan McAnally. The Flying Fleet did answer in the bottom half of the frame with their own sacrifice fly to trail 4-1.

With the Patriots ahead 5-1 in the bottom of the third, Erskine rallied with three runs after capitalizing on an error to cut the deficit to 5-4.

FMU regained a two-run advantage at 6-4 in the top of the fourth as redshirt junior right fielder Zach Doorlag recorded an RBI on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, but the Flying Fleet escaped further damage with back-to-back strikeouts.

In the bottom of the fourth, Erskine tied the game at 6-6 following a two-run home run to left field.

The Patriots reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth with three runs on two hits, highlighted by a two-run single to left field by sixth-year pinch hitter Daniel Hussey, 9-6.

The Flying Fleet ultimately broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth with an eight-run inning, featuring a three-run blast to left center, which led Erskine to a 14-9 win.

Junior left-hander Aydin Palmer took a no-decision after allowing eight runs (six earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings pitched (74 pitches). Junior Jafet Martinez Delgado (4-1) suffered the loss after yielding four runs on three hits in relief.

In the loss, the Patriots left 13 runners on base, including nine in scoring position, and stranded the bases loaded four times.

In Saturday's second contest, Erskine established a 4-0 advantage in the opening three frames of the contest, including hitting a solo homer in the second.

The Patriots quickly flipped the script with back-to-back three-run innings to take a 6-4 edge. Senior left fielder Will Dorrell hit a two-run homer to right field in the top of the fourth, while Vargas laced a two-run double to left-center in the fifth.

The Flying Fleet countered with four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the fifth to regain an 8-6 lead.

Francis Marion took control of the game in the top of the sixth after tallying five runs, highlighted by a pair of RBI singles by Koza and senior first baseman Riley Orr, while sophomore center fielder Adrian Nina delivered a two-run double to left field as FMU went up 11-8.

McAnally joined the offensive outburst with a grand slam to right-center in the top of the seventh, to increase his FMU single-season record to 17 homers.

In the eighth, freshman second baseman Myles Profitt peppered a two-run triple to right field to climb the lead to 18-8, and then scored when the ball was thrown away.

The Patriots finished the final inning of the series with seven runs on four hits, as Davis, Dorrell, and redshirt junior catcher Zander Buchan all recorded RBI hits. Bussey III capped the frame with his record-breaking grand slam to left-center, as FMU pulled away by a 25-9 margin. He also joins McAnally in a tie for the single-season record (17).

Seven Patriots posted multi-hit performances, as Bussey III led the way by going 3-for-5 with a homer, four runs batted in, and four runs scored. Orr went 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, one RBI, and three runs scored. Davis and Dorrell both tallied three hits and three runs scored, while recording multi-RBI games.

Freshman right-hander Charlie Bonds (1-0) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings with only two hits allowed and one strikeout. Sophomore righty Tyler Skeen pitched 1.2 innings in relief and yielded one unearned run on one hit with one strikeout. McAnally closed out the ninth with a scoreless frame and two strikeouts.

Nick Fraginals of Erskine (1-2) suffered the loss.