Despite being limited to only two base hits, Francis Marion University had the tying runs on base in the sixth inning, but the Patriots were unable to come up with the big hit and fell 5-1 to 17th-ranked Rollins College, Sunday morning (March 13) at the Patriot Invitational Tournament at Freedom Florence.

Francis Marion (16-10-1) did not have a runner reach base against Rollins right-hander Kirsten Frame until the bottom the sixth inning and the Patriots were trailing 4-0.  However, in that frame a walk and singles by Olivia Zielinski and Sara Broderick loaded the bases with no outs.

After a pop out and a foul out, Tristan Faile hit a hard shot that the Rollins third baseman could not handle allowing a run to score and trimming the deficit to 4-1.  Frame then retired Megann Sallinger on a foul out to end the threat.

Rollins (22-1) added an insurance run in the seventh and the Patriots went one-two-three in their half of the last inning.

Senior righty Cea Knox was tagged with the loss as she allowed four runs on four hits, while walking seven.