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FLORENCE, SC – Junior catcher Olivia Ferguson hit a two-run home run in game one and added a two-run single in game two as Francis Marion University swept its Senior Day doubleheader from UNC Pembroke, winning 3-0 and 8-0 on Thursday afternoon (April 5) in Peach Belt Conference softball action.

Francis Marion ups its overall mark to 28-12 while evening its conference record at 6-6.  UNCP drops to 14-25 and 3-11.

FMU will play at Pfeiffer University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

On a day that FMU honored four seniors – second baseman Ashley Jaramillo, center fielder Destinea Schneider, first baseman Megann Sallinger, and right-handed pitcher Kayla Ellingsen – it was Ferguson that helped power the Patriots to a pair of wins, although several seniors did play a role as well.

Ellingsen (10-5) reached double digits wins for the second straight season as she tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener.  The Venice, Fla., native struck out four and walked none en route to her fourth shutout of the season.

Ferguson blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence in the bottom of the second as the Patriots took a 2-0 advantage.  Ellingsen then helped her own cause with an RBI double off the base of the left field fence in the last of the sixth.

UNCP junior Starr Gilley (5-13) was the losing pitcher in game one.

In the second contest, sophomore righty Taylor Luff pitched a one-hit shutout.  She fanned seven and walked three, while surrendering only a two-out, third-inning single to UNCP catcher Brea Hartley.

FMU scored all eight of its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the game ended by the mercy rule with a light rain falling.  Two Lady Brave errors in the frame helped lead to five of the runs being unearned.  Ferguson and Jaramillo both delivered two-RBI singles, while Sallinger drove in one run with a single to left center field.

FMU sophomore shortstop Lindsey Brown singled in both games to extend her hitting streak to six games.

UNCP starter Natalie Klemann (5-8) was tagged with the game-two loss.

Francis Marion Univ. 3, UNC Pembroke 0 (Apr 05, 2012 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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UNC Pembroke........ 000 000 0 -  0  3  2      (14-24, 3-10 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 020 001 X -  3  6  1      (27-12, 5-6 PBC)
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Pitchers: UNC Pembroke - Starr Gilley and Brea Hartley. Francis Marion Univ. - Kayla Ellingsen
and Olivia Ferguson.
Win-Kayla Ellingsen (10-5)  Loss-Starr Gilley (5-13)  T-1:28  A-68
HR FMU - Olivia Ferguson (2).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy, 77 degrees

Francis Marion Univ. 8, UNC Pembroke 0 (Apr 05, 2012 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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UNC Pembroke........ 000 00 -  0  1  3      (14-25, 3-11 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 8X -  8  6  0      (28-12, 6-6 PBC)
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Pitchers: UNC Pembroke - Natalie Klemann; Starr Gilley (4); Jamie Burwell (4) and Brea Hartley.
Francis Marion Univ. - Taylor Luff and Olivia Ferguson.
Win-Taylor Luff (7-3)  Loss-Natalie Klemann (5-8)  T-1:30
Weather: Overcast, windy, 78 degrees
Klemann faced 3 batters in the 4th.
Gilley faced 4 batters in the 4th.