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FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-hander Kayla Ellingsen twirled a three-hit shutout, while sophomore shortstop Lindsey Brown rapped out three hits as Francis Marion University blanked Fairmont State University 6-0 and earned a split of its two games on Sunday (March 11) at the annual Patriot Invitational Tournament at Freedom Florence.  FMU was beaten by 17th-ranked Bloomsburg University 1-0 in its first game on Sunday.

FMU (20-8) saw its eight-game winning streak snapped, but the Patriots have now won nine of their last 10 contests.  The Patriots will play a non-conference doubleheader at St. Andrews University on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

Ellingsen (6-3) struck out a season-high 13 batters – one shy of her career high – while walking only one.   Sixty-eight of her 99 pitches found the strike zone.

Brown was 3-for-3 with a run scored and one driven in, while sophomore outfielder Sara Broderick was 2-for-4.

The Patriots tallied two runs each in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.  Brown singled in third inning.  Broderick then hit a grounder to short that was errored on and when the throw went into right field, Brown scored and Broderick raced all the way to third, where she later scored on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, Brown stroked an RBI single and senior designated player Megann Sallinger scored on a throwing error.  The final two runs came on an outfield error and a Jazz Holliday RBI groundout.

Righty Alesha Jones (1-1) took the loss for Fairmont State (4-7).

In Sunday's first game, FMU freshman righty Katie Carnes (8-3) lost a tough 1-0 decision.  She allowed only five hits, walked just one, and struck out seven.

Bloomsburg (9-1) scored its only run in the bottom of the second.  Left fielder Hannah Moir dropped a two-out RBI single into right field to plate the only run.  Bloomburg shortstop Chrissy Bleko finished the game 3-for-3.

FMU senior center fielder Destinea Schneider and Broderick had the only hits off Huskies' starter Caitlin O'Connor (1-0), who was making her first start of the season.

Broderick got her single in the top of the sixth as the Patriots placed runners on second and third with two outs.  Bloomsburg southpaw Cait Paine came in and struck out Tristan Faile to end the threat.  Paine then set the Patriots down in order in the seventh to register her first save of 2012.