News Summary
The Francis Marion University baseball team celebrates significant achievements as three players receive All-Conference honors from Conference Carolinas for the 2025 season. Rijnaldo Euson is named Pitcher of the Year, Charlie Bussey III earns Player of the Year, and head coach Jeff Jefferson is honored as Coach of the Year. The Patriots recorded a remarkable season with a 39-11 record, leading them into the conference tournament as the top seed, aiming for further success.
Florence, SC – The Francis Marion University (FMU) baseball team is celebrating a remarkable achievement as three of its members have received prestigious All-Conference honors from Conference Carolinas for the 2025 season. Senior left-hander Rijnaldo Euson has been named Pitcher of the Year, sophomore first baseman Charlie Bussey III has been recognized as Player of the Year, and first-year head coach Jeff Jefferson has been honored as Coach of the Year.
Both Euson and Bussey III were selected for the First-Team All-Conference squad, while senior shortstop Rayth Petersen earned a spot on the Second-Team. Their outstanding performance has significantly contributed to the team’s success this season.
The Patriots achieved a remarkable regular-season record of 39-11, their best performance since 2012, and shared the Conference Carolinas regular-season title with Young Harris College, as both teams ended with a 22-8 record in league play. Additionally, FMU set a program record for home victories, boasting a 25-5 mark.
FMU enters the upcoming conference tournament at Caromont Health Park in Gastonia, N.C., as the top seed. The Patriots are scheduled to face the winner of a play-in game between Shorter University and Emmanuel University (Ga.) on Thursday at 11 a.m.
Individual Achievements
Rijnaldo Euson’s performance this season has been nothing short of stellar. He holds an 11-2 pitching record with one save and an impressive 2.76 earned run average (ERA). Throughout the season, Euson has pitched 91 1/3 innings, allowing 66 hits while striking out 109 batters. Opponents have struggled against him, batting only .197. Euson leads the conference in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, and opponents’ batting average against him, while ranking second in ERA.
Charlie Bussey III has had an outstanding season at the plate, boasting a conference-leading batting average of .429. He has recorded 19 doubles, seven home runs, and 55 RBIs. Over the course of 49 games, he has scored 60 runs, maintained a .540 on-base percentage, and achieved a .667 slugging percentage. His speed on the base path is evident, as he successfully stole 15 bases in 21 attempts. Bussey III also demonstrated consistency at the plate with 25 multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI games, alongside only committing three errors in 350 chances for a .991 fielding percentage.
Rayth Petersen is another key contributor, hitting .344 with 45 runs scored, eight doubles, four triples, as well as one home run and 43 RBIs. He has a strong .428 on-base percentage and converted 22 of 30 stolen base attempts. Petersen has recorded 18 multi-hit games and 12 multi-RBI games while ranking among the Top 25 in several offensive categories. In addition to his offensive prowess, he made seven relief appearances on the mound, compiling a record of 0-1 with four saves and a 5.59 ERA.
Bowling Performance Recognition
Moreover, senior right-handed relief pitcher Danny Leo earned the title of Conference Carolina Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 21-27, 2025. In an impressive outing against Newberry College, Leo pitched 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out nine batters, resulting in a victory. His overall record stands at 5-0 with a 3.37 ERA across 12 appearances this season.
With these accolades and a strong season behind them, the FMU Patriots are poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming conference tournament.
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Additional Resources
- SC Now: FMU Baseball Achievements
- Google Search: FMU Baseball News
- BVM Sports: FMU Baseball Honors
- Wikipedia: Francis Marion University
- WBTW: Coach Jefferson Named for FMU Baseball
- Google News: FMU Baseball
- Augusta Jags: FMU vs. Augusta
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Baseball
- Restoration News Media: Bulldogs vs. FMU
- Google Search: College Baseball Statistics
Author: STAFF HERE FLORENCE WRITER
FLORENCE STAFF WRITER The FLORENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREFlorence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Florence, Florence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Florence Festival of Lights, Pee Dee Pride, and agricultural expos at the Florence Center. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Florence Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Pee Dee Area Council of Governments, plus leading businesses in healthcare and retail that power the local economy such as McLeod Health and Pee Dee Electric Cooperative. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharleston.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGreenville.com, and HEREHiltonHead.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
