Box Score FLORENCE, SC - Junior right-hander Toni Flessate tossed a
five-hitter and drove in a pair of runs to carry third-seeded and
18th-ranked USC Aiken to a 3-1 win over seventh-seeded Francis
Marion University, Sunday (April 19) in the final game of the
losers' bracket at the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball
Tournament.
Francis Marion falls to 32-19 with an outside shot at receiving
an invitation to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
USCA (34-13) swept four games from the Patriots this season and
advances to face top-seeded and second-ranked North Georgia College
& State College in the championship game later Sunday at 2:30
p.m.
FMU senior catcher Kayla Ruede and junior southpaw pitcher
Michaela Wolf were named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Patriots only got two runners to second through the first
six meetings. Trailing 3-0 in the top of the seventh, FMU
scratched across one run. Ashley Jaramillo and pinch hitter
Katie Campbell singled and moved up to second and third on a ground
out. Shannan Tyson's two-out grounder to shortstop was booted
allowing one run to score, however Flessate induced Lakyn Bendle to
ground out to end the game.
Pacer shortstop Lauren Locklear led off the third inning with a
solo home run. Following a hit batter, an FMU error, and a
sacrifice bunt, Flessate laced a two-run single to left upping the
USCA lead to 3-0.
Wolf (20-11) allowed seven hits and two earned runs, while
striking out four and walking no one. Flessate fanned three
and also issued no walks.
Tamela Bell, Kat Beauvais, Ruede, Jaramillo and Campbell
accounted for the five Francis Marion hits.
Locklear ended the day 3-for-4, while Flessate was 2-for-3.
This marks the second straight year, Francis Marion came within
one game of the tournament title contest.