Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Like Francis Marion Athletics on Facebook!
HICKORY, NC – Sophomore outfielder Olivia Zielinski drilled a three-run homer and two batters later junior designated player Jazz Holliday hit a two-run shot to rally Francis Marion University to a 6-4 win over ninth-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 18) in non-conference softball action. The Bears returned the favor with a 6-4 victory in game two of the doubleheader.
Francis Marion, now 8-2, was scheduled to play local-rival Coker College on Sunday (Feb. 19) at noon, but that twinbill has been postponed to a later date due to the forecasted precipitation in the Florence area over the next 12 hours.
FMU's next game will be on Tuesday when the Patriots entertain Limestone College for a doubleheader at 1 p.m.
Trailing 4-0 after three innings in the opener, FMU rallied for five runs in the top of the fourth – thanks to Zielinski's three-run homer to left field and Holliday's two-run shot to center field.
Senior second baseman Ashley Jaramillo added an insurance solo home run in the top of the seventh frame, her third long ball of the year.
Holliday finished the game 2-for-3 as the only Patriot with multiple hits. However, all nine batters in the line-up registered a base hit.
The rally gave senior right-hander Kayla Ellingsen's her fourth win of the young season against only one defeat. She allowed just four hits – and only one after the third inning – while striking out nine.
Dawon Millwood was tagged with the game-one loss, her first in five decisions.
In game two, Francis Marion claimed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second when Lindsey Brown's infield single scored Tristan Faile. However, the Bears answered with single runs in the second and third innings and tacked on two more in the fourth to lead 4-1.
Brown scored the second Patriot tally in the fifth frame on a Lenoir-Rhyne infield error, but the Bears responded with two runs on a homer by Brittany Coursen in the last of the sixth to lead 6-2. Sophomore outfielder Sara Broderick drilled an RBI single in the top of the seventh and senior centerfielder Destinea Schneider drove home the final FMU run with an RBI groundout.
Brown (2-for-2) registered two of the Patriots' four hits in the second contest. Freshman righty Katie Carnes (3-1) suffered her first loss of the year as she allowed six runs on six hits. She struck out three and walked three.
Junior right-hander Megan Laxton (4-1) was the game-two winner for the Bears, who are also now 8-2.
GAME ONE: Francis Marion 6, #9 Lenoir-Rhyne 4 (Feb 18, 2012 at Hickory, N.C.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 000 500 1 - 6 10 0 (8-1)
Lenoir-Rhyne........ 004 000 0 - 4 4 2 (7-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Kayla Ellingsen and Olivia Ferguson. Lenoir-Rhyne - D. Millwood and
S. Atkins.
Win-Kayla Ellingsen(4-1) Loss-D. Millwood(4-1) T-1:56 A-155
HR FMU - Ashley Jaramillo (3); Olivia Zielinski (1); Jazz Holliday (1).
HR L-R - J. Mizelle (4); C. Carpenter (1).
GAME TWO: #9 Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Francis Marion 4 (Feb 18, 2012 at Hickory, N.C.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 010 010 2 - 4 4 0 (8-2)
Lenoir-Rhyne........ 011 202 X - 6 6 4 (8-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Katie Carnes; Taylor Luff(6) and Olivia Ferguson. Lenoir-Rhyne -
M. Laxton and S. Atkins.
Win-M. Laxton(4-1) Loss-Katie Carnes(3-1) T-1:38 A-0
HR L-R - M. Laxton (1); B. Coursen (1).
