Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-hander Cea Knox twirled a five-hitter and sophomore third baseman Tristan Faile hit a two-run double as Francis Marion University beat 23rd-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University, Saturday afternoon (April 2) in the opening game of a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader. April Jowers' two-run triple helped key a 6-1 AASU win in the second contest.
With the split, Francis Marion moves to 21-16-1 overall and 6-8 in the PBC, while AASU is 21-7 and 6-4. FMU will play host to UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Knox (11-9) allowed only an unearned run in the sixth, after the Patriots already led 3-0. In that inning, she stranded three AASU base runners with a strikeout to end the threat. For the game, Knox struck out six and walked only one.
FMU scored all three of its runs in the fourth inning, aided by a two-out Pirate error that extended the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, a pop up was dropped in front of the second base bag. Faile followed with a two-run double to the right center field gap. She then scored on an RBI double by freshman Lindsey Brown.
Senior left fielder Chelle Phillips (2-for-3) was the lone player on either side to have two hits in the opener.
AASU righty Megan Barnwell (13-4) was tagged with the loss, although she allowed only six hits and no earned runs. Shortstop Keela Scott's sixth-inning double to left center scored Erin Billingsley who had reached on a fielding error.
Barnwell and Knox traded outcomes in game two. Barnwell relieved AASU starter Shelby Duff in the bottom of the first inning and earned the win. She allowed only three singles and no runs in 6.2 innings.
Knox also started the second contest, but gave up six runs on five hits in four innings.
AASU scored twice in the top of the first on a double by Billingsley, two walks, a wild pitch, and a run-scoring single by Ashley Buckett. FMU answered with a single run in the bottom of the frame – on an RBI single by Megann Sallinger – but the Patriots left the bases loaded.
The Pirates scored once in the second and three times in the fourth – highlighted by Jowers' two-run triple to the center field fence.
Billingsley and Buckett each had two hits in the second contest. Phillips added a single in game two, her third hit of the day for FMU.
Francis Marion 3, #23 Armstrong Atlantic 1 (Apr 02, 2011 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Armstrong Atlantic.. 000 001 0 - 1 5 2 (20-7, 5-4 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 300 X - 3 6 1 (21-15-1, 6-7 PBC)
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Pitchers: Armstrong Atlantic - Megan Barnwell and Ashley Buckett. Francis Marion Univ. -
Cea Knox and Olivia Ferguson.
Win-Cea Knox(11-8) Loss-Megan Barnwell(12-4) T-1:31 A-68
Weather: Mostly sunny,65 ,slight breeze
#23 Armstrong Atlantic 6, Francis Marion 1 (Apr 02, 2011 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Armstrong Atlantic.. 210 300 0 - 6 7 1 (21-7, 6-4 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 100 000 0 - 1 4 1 (21-16-1, 6-8 PBC)
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Pitchers: Armstrong Atlantic - Shelby Duff; Megan Barnwell(1) and Ashley Buckett.
Francis Marion Univ. - Cea Knox; Kayla Ellingsen(5) and Olivia Ferguson.
Win-Megan Barnwell(13-4) Loss-Cea Knox(11-9) T-1:48 A-0
Weather: Most sunny, 68, windy
Knox faced 1 batter in the 5th.
