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FLORENCE, SC-  Senior Ashley Jaramillo smacked two home runs, including a grand slam, as Francis Marion University dropped Virginia State University 9-1 in 6 innings and the University of Charleston (W.V.) 5-4 in extra innings (8) on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 5).  The Patriots finished the Inaugural Swamp Fox Classic unbeaten (4-0) on the weekend.

FMU was led by Jaramillo's 3-for-7 day at the plate including six of her seven RBI coming in the day's opener.  Junior third baseman Tristan Faile had a 3-for-6 afternoon of her own with a pair of runs batted in and a homer.

In the opener, Virginia State (0-3) took advantage of a wild junior lefty Murphy McConnell who hit two Trojan hitters, including one with the bases loaded, to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the first.   However, McConnell (1-0) settled in after that, scattering five hits and striking out two hitters.  She helped her own cause as well going 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored.

The Patriots picked up three runs in the bottom of the third, one RBI courtesy of a single from junior Olivia Ferguson, as well as a 2-RBI double from Jaramillo.  The biggest blow in the game came when Jaramillo connected on a Jessica Mattia pitch with the bases loaded and deposited it over the left field fence for a grand slam. 

Francis Marion then tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to close out the Trojans by the eight-run rule.  Sophomore righty Taylor Luff came on to work the final inning for FMU striking out the side in the top of the sixth.

In the second game of the day, FMU downed Charleston with a two-run eighth frame.  Each team pushed a run across in the first inning before Francis Marion took the advantage in the bottom of the third thanks to back-to-back home runs from Jaramillo and Faile to lead 3-1. 

The Golden Eagles pulled back even in the top of the fourth when Samantha Herndon tagged Patriot starter senior Kayla Ellingsen (2-0) for a two-run RBI single. 

The teams played to a 3-3 tie through seven innings, and played extra-innings with the international tie-breaker rule.  The Golden Eagles struck first in the top of the eighth with a Logan Tretick double that scored Janeen Vazquez.  The Patriots then tied the game 4-4 on sophomore Lindsey Brown's two-out RBI-single up the middle that plated freshman Krissy Longstreet.  Freshman Carly Madigan then scored the winning run on a passed ball.

Ellingsen worked the entire eight innings, giving up seven hits and two of the four runs were earned.  She struck out six Golden Eagles, while walking only one.

FMU returns to action on Sunday (Feb. 11) when the Patriots welcome Mars Hill University to town for a pair of games. The doubleheader will start at noon on the FMU Softball Field.

Francis Marion Univ. 9, Virginia State Univ. 1 (Feb 05, 2012 at Florence, SC)
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Virginia State Univ. 100 000  -  1  5  1      (0-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 003 042  -  9  9  1      (3-0)
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Pitchers: Virginia State Univ. - MATTIA,Jessica; UNDERHILL,Caitlin(6); BAYNHAM,Sudie(6) and .
Francis Marion Univ. - Murphy McConnell; Taylor Luff(6) and .
Win-Murphy McConnell(1-0)  Loss-MATTIA,Jessica  T-1:30  A-50
HR FMU - Ashley Jaramillo (1).
Weather: Partly cloudy 63 degrees

Francis Marion Univ. 5, Univ. of Charleston 4 (Feb 05, 2012 at Florence, SC)
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Univ. of Charleston. 100 200 01 -  4  7  1      (2-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 102 000 02 -  5  8  1      (4-0)
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Pitchers: Univ. of Charleston - Courtney Fain; Kelsee Blackwell(3) and Kimberley Giannini.
Francis Marion Univ. - Kayla Ellingsen and Olivia Ferguson.
Win-Kayla Ellingsen(2-0)  Loss-Kelsee Blackwell  T-2:00  A-50
HR FMU - Ashley Jaramillo (2); Tristan Faile (1).
Weather: Partly cloudy, 63 degrees
Game: 4