FLORENCE, SC – Behind a dominant 8.0-inning performance from redshirt senior Robbie Jordan, No. 11 Francis Marion University claimed Game 1 of the series with an 8-3 victory over UNC Pembroke on Friday night (April 3) in Conference Carolinas baseball action at Sparrow Stadium.

The Patriots earn a fourth-straight win to improve to 29-7 overall with an 18-4 mark in conference play. The series against the Braves continues on Saturday with a doubleheader slated for 2 p.m.

Jordan (8-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and zero walks in 8.0 innings pitched (115 pitches). He retired the side in order three times in the start while forcing 11 flyouts and seven groundouts. Jordan also achieved history on Friday night after tying the FMU all-time wins record with 29 victories, matching the mark held by Erin Jones (2002-04).

At the plate, senior third baseman Will Dorrell finished 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Senior first baseman Riley Orr tallied two hits, one run batted in, and one run scored. Junior designated hitter Ethan McAnally went 1-for-2 with a game-changing grand slam in the bottom of the third, his 13th homer of the year.

In the top of the first, UNC Pembroke took the 1-0 edge following a two-out solo homer to right field.

The Patriots answered back in the bottom of the third, loading the bases on two walks and a single. In the next at-bat, redshirt junior right fielder Charlie Bussey III drew a five-pitch walk to tally an RBI and tied the contest at 1-1. McAnally stepped to the plate with two outs and belted a grand slam to center field to put Francis Marion in front by a 5-1 margin.

In the bottom of the fifth, FMU extended its lead to 6-1 after redshirt junior catcher Zander Buchan drew a bases-loaded walk. 

The Patriots would scrape across two insurance runs in the sixth as Orr drilled an RBI single up the middle before Bussey III stole home on a delayed steal, 8-1.

In the top of the eighth, the Braves took advantage of an error and brought in two runs to trim the deficit to 8-3.

Redshirt freshman Owen Powell closed out the final inning out of the bullpen after forcing a double play and striking out the final batter.

Jacob Smith (4-2) of UNCP suffered the loss after yielding all eight runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and seven walks over 6.0 innings of work.