Like Francis Marion Athletics on Facebook!

FLORENCE, SC- For the second straight day, Francis Marion University freshman right-hander Katie Carnes and sophomore righty Taylor Luff turned in strong pitching performances as the Patriots swept a non-conference doubleheader from Queens University of Charlotte on Thursday afternoon (March 8).  FMU won the opener 5-1 behind the two-hit pitching of Carnes, and not to be outdone, Luff tossed a one-hitter in game two as the Patriots prevailed 8-0 in five innings.

Francis Marion extends its winning streak to six games and ups its season record to 17-7, while Queens drops to 8-13.  Both teams will play in the Patriot Invitational Softball Tournament on Saturday and Sunday at Freedom Florence.  FMU will play Fairmont State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Queens again on Saturday at 4 p.m.

In game one, Carnes (7-2) struck out three and walked two.

FMU scored once in the bottom of the first on an RBI single down the right field line by junior third baseman Tristan Faile.  Noemi Rodriguez and Emma Schultz smacked back-to-back doubles off Carnes in the top of the second to tie the score.  Carnes then settled down and retired the next 14 batters in order.

The Patriots took a 3-1 advantage in the fourth with Carnes scoring the go-ahead run with two outs.  Both her and senior designated player Kayla Ellingsen came home on an error that saw the ball go into the Patriot dugout.  FMU added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth on a two-run double to left by senior second baseman Ashley Jaramillo.

Senior center fielder Destinea Schneider led FMU at the plate with three hits and two runs scored, while Carnes and freshman catcher Krissy Longstreet were both 2-for-3.

In the second contest, Luff allowed only two base runners: a bloop single by left fielder Keeya Turner in the fourth and a walk to first baseman Kaitlyn Cheek in the fifth.  Luff fanned 10 Royals batters.

FMU leadoff batter Sara Broderick recorded her first career four-hit game and scored four times.  Faile added a pair of hits, including a solo homer in the third inning, and Longstreet was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Francis Marion finished the twinbill with 23 hits.  Queens' right-handers Chantel Dodge (6-6) and Jessica Scott (0-3) were tagged with the losses in the two games.

Game One

Francis Marion Univ. 5, Queens U. Charlotte 1 (Mar 08, 2012 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Queens U. Charlotte. 010 000 0 -  1  2  3      (8-12)
Francis Marion Univ. 100 220 X -  5 11  0      (16-7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Queens U. Charlotte - DODGE, Chantel and POULTON, Emily. Francis Marion Univ. -
Katie Carnes and Krissy Longstreet.
Win-Katie Carnes (7-2)  Loss-DODGE, Chantel (6-6)  T-1:38  A-157
Weather: Overcast, 69 degrees, NICE

Game Two

Francis Marion Univ. 8, Queens U. Charlotte 0 (Mar 08, 2012 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Queens U. Charlotte. 000 00 -  0  1  2      (8-13)
Francis Marion Univ. 211 13 -  8 12  0      (17-7)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Queens U. Charlotte - SCOTT, Jessica and HARRELL, Brittany. Francis Marion Univ. -
Taylor Luff and Krissy Longstreet.
Win-Taylor Luff (4-2)  Loss-SCOTT, Jessica (0-3)  T-1:32
HR FMU - Tristan Faile (2).
Weather: Overcast, 72 degrees