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MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Home runs hurt Francis Marion University on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 22) as the Patriots dropped a non-conference road softball doubleheader to Mount Olive College, losing 3-2 and 2-0 at Nancy C. Cassell Field.
FMU (9-5) opens up its Peach Belt Conference schedule this weekend at home as it battles USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
In the opener, junior catcher Rebekah McDaniel hit a two-out, walk-off, solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Mount Olive a 3-2 win.
The Patriots led 2-0 in game one after senior second baseman Ashley Jaramillo stroked a two-run single down the left field line in the fifth inning. The Trojans knotted the score with a pair of runs in the last of the sixth.
FMU's designated player Murphy McConnell delivered a lead-off single in the top of the seventh, but the Patriots were unable to score, setting the stage for McDaniels' deciding shot.
Senior right-hander Kayla Ellingsen (5-2) allowed 10 hits and the three runs, while striking out a season-high 10 and walking no one.
McConnell and senior center fielder Destinea Schneider both had two hits for Francis Marion in game one.
In the second contest, the Patriots were once again hurt by a long ball when Elizabeth Overman hit a two-run shot off FMU starter Taylor Luff (0-2) in the bottom of the sixth inning. Luff was saddled with the loss despite only giving up three hits and striking out five Trojan hitters.
Francis Marion was stymied by Trojan starter Lauren Smith, who gave up four hits and struck out five hitters of her own, while improving to 5-1 on the season. Mount Olive is now 8-2.
Juniors Tristan Faile and Jazz Holiday and sophomores Olivia Zielenski and Luff all had a hit for FMU in the second game.
SOFTBALL GAME ONE
Mount Olive 3, Francis Marion 2 (Feb 22, 2012 at Mount Olive, NC) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 000 020 0 - 2 8 1 (9-4)
Mount Olive......... 000 002 1 - 3 10 0 (7-2)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Kayla Ellingsen and Krissy Longstreet. Mount Olive - White;
L. Smith(7) and McDaniel.
Win-L. Smith (4-1) Loss-Kayla Ellingsen (5-2) T-2:12 A-174
HR MOCSB - McDaniel (1); Wright (3).
Weather: sunny, 60's
White faced 1 batter in the 7th.
SOFTBALL GAME TWO
Mount Olive 2, Francis Marion 0 (Feb 22, 2012 at Mount Olive, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (9-5)
Mount Olive......... 000 002 X - 2 3 0 (8-2)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Taylor Luff and Krissy Longstreet. Mount Olive - L. Smith and
McDaniel.
Win-L. Smith (5-1) Loss-Taylor Luff (0-2) T-1:50
HR MOCSB - Overman (1).
Weather: sunny, 60's
