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FLORENCE, SC - Freshman right-handed pitcher Katie Carnes picked up two wins in relief as Francis Marion University topped the University of West Alabama 11-8 and Brevard College 7-2, Sunday afternoon (March 4) in non-conference action at the FMU Softball Field.

FMU (13-7) opened up the afternoon by hammering out 14 hits and scoring 11 runs against the Tigers of West Alabama (4-6).  The Patriots pushed across five runs in the first two innings to jump out to a 5-0 lead.  Junior Ashley Jaramillo contributed in both innings, picking up an RBI single and a run scored in the first and another RBI single in the second frame.

The Tigers used a six spot in the top of the fourth to take a 6-5 lead when Nicole Bailey came around to score on Stephanie Shoup's RBI groundout to second.  Bailey had earlier stroked an RBI double to centerfield, which chased FMU's starter Taylor Luff and brought on Carnes.

Francis Marion answered with its own six-run inning in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead at 11-6.  Carnes helped her own cause with an RBI single to right plating junior Tristan Faile.  Sophomore shortstop Lindsay Brown crushed a two-RBI double to left field and senior center fielder Destinea Schneider and Faile legged out RBI infield singles.

The Tigers picked up two runs in the top of the seventh before Carnes slammed the door shut on any comeback attempt.  Carnes allowed two runs, only one earned, and struck out three in her four innings. West Alabama reliever Taylor Tucker (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

The top four hitters in the Patriot lineup had multi-hit games: sophomore left fielder Sara Broderick (3-for-4), Schneider (2-for-3), Jaramillo (2-for-3), and Faile (2-for-4).  Carnes also racked up a trio of hits finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Brown finished 2-for-3.

In the second game of the day for FMU, a two-run double from junior outfielder Jazz Holliday and another RBI hit from Carnes helped FMU rally from a 2-1 deficit to claim the 7-2 win.  Brevard drops to 7-9 overall.

The Tornados trailed 1-0 early before third baseman Maddie Fletcher took FMU senior righty Kayla Ellingsen deep for a two-run home run over the left centerfield wall putting Brevard on top briefly 2-1.

Francis Marion picked up three runs in the third inning, highlighted by Holliday's two-RBI double and Carnes' run-scoring single, putting FMU back ahead 4-2.

FMU added three runs in the bottom of the fifth on freshman catcher Krissy Longstreet's two-RBI triple down the right field line and an RBI grounder from Ellingsen. 

Faile went 3-for-4 in the game two with an RBI, while Holliday was 2-for-3, Broderick was 2-for-4, and Schneider was 2-for-4. Carnes worked five innings in relief, giving up only one hit and fanning four, to run her season record to 5-2.

The Patriots return to action on Wednesday (March 7) when they travel to Lander University for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.