Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 SAINT LEO, FL – Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Luff tossed a pair of three-hitters, one a shutout, as Francis Marion University split its two games at the Saint Leo Challenge on Saturday (Feb. 23).
Luff's shutout allowed FMU to beat Florida Southern College 1-0 as senior third baseman Tristan Faile singled home the lone run. However in the Patriots' second game, Saint Leo University rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim a 5-2 victory.
On Sunday, Francis Marion (11-5) will face Barry University at 1:30 p.m. and sixth-ranked University of Tampa at 3:45 p.m.
In the victory over Florida Southern, Luff (7-3) struck out seven while walking two. Freshman outfielder Cat Zalud scored the only run in the third inning. She poked a one-out single down the left line, moved to second on a bunt single by Luff, and crossed the plate on a two-out single up the middle by Faile.
Clinging to the 1-0 advantage, Luff escaped a first-and-third no-out situation in the fifth frame by inducing a fly out, pop out, and ground out. She also issued a pair of one-out walks in the bottom of the seventh, but recovered to retire the next two batters on a foul out and strikeout to end the game.
Luff and Zalud both had two hits in the opener.
In FMU's second contest, the Patriots rallied to take a 2-1 lead against the host school with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, Zalud singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a wild pitch, and came home to score when junior Lindsey Brown stole second and the throw went to that base.
FMU took a 2-1 lead when Faile doubled to right center field in the sixth and trotted home when senior catcher Olivia Ferguson followed with a triple down the right field line. FMU missed out on further runs when the following batter hit into a double play with Ferguson being retired on the play.
However, the Saints scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth without the ball leaving the infield. The rally consisted of three walks, two FMU errors, two illegal pitches, two bunt singles, and a wild pitch.
Luff took the loss despite again allowing only three hits. She fanned eight and only two of the five runs were earned.
Fasile and Brown both had two hits for FMU in the nightcap.
Francis Marion 1, Florida Southern 0 (Feb 23, 2013 at Saint Leo, FL)
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Francis Marion...... 001 000 0 - 1 5 1 (11-4)
Florida Southern.... 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (5-10)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Taylor Luff and Olivia Ferguson. Florida Southern - Oglevie and Hunn.
Win-Taylor Luff(7-2) Loss-Oglevie(3-5) T-1:46 A-114
Weather: 83, mostly cloudy, 16 mph wind
Saint Leo 5, Francis Marion 2 (Feb 23, 2013 at Saint Leo, Fla.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 011 0 - 2 7 3 (11-5)
Saint Leo........... 000 104 X - 5 3 1 (12-5)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Taylor Luff and Olivia Ferguson. Saint Leo - Alana Tabel;
Ashley Ehlers(6) and Kylee Hardesty.
Win-Ashley Ehlers Loss-Taylor Luff (7-3) T-2:00 A-99
Weather: Clear Tabel faced 2 batters in the 6th.
