FLORENCE, SC – Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Luff rapped out three hits, won game one, and saved game two to lead Francis Marion University to a non-conference softball doubleheader sweep of Erskine College on Wednesday afternoon (March 13).

Senior third baseman Tristan Faile grounded a walk-off run-scoring single up the middle to back Luff's pitching and hand FMU a 3-2 victory in the first game.  Luff came on in relief in the second contest and stranded three Erskine base runners to allow the Patriots to escape with a 4-2 win.

Francis Marion (19-9) learned after the game that it has entered the latest NFCA Top 25 poll at the 22nd position.  The Patriots will play a key Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Augusta State University on Saturday at 1 p.m.

In the opener, FMU took a 2-0 advantage in the third inning on run-scoring singles by Faile and senior catcher Olivia Ferguson.  Ferguson's base hit was a safety squeeze bunt that left Erskine pitcher Kelsey Spurrier (4-5) with no play to make.

The Flying Fleet (5-10-1) tied the score at 2-2 with a pair of sixth-inning tallies. Catcher Larissa Shannon drilled an RBI double to right center and two batters later Ashlyn Hicks bounced a run-scoring single through the left side of the infield.

Facing extra innings, FMU junior second baseman Kristie Hanewinckel led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple to right center field.  Faille then ended the game when she hit a 1-2 pitch from Spurrier into center field.

Faile, Ferguson, and Hanewinckel were all 2-for-3 in the opener.

Luff (10-6) allowed the two runs on eight hits, while fanning five and issuing no walks. She was 1-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.

In game two, junior righty Danielle Payne helped her own cause with a two-run single up the middle in the last of the third frame that snapped a 1-1 deadlock.  The Patriots added an insurance run in the fifth when Ferguson led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on a single by sophomore first baseman Carly Madigan.

Trailing 4-2, Erskine loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh thanks to a single, a hit batter, and a walk.  Payne retired the next batter on an infield popup, and then Luff returned to the mound and struck out the next two batters to earn her first save of 2013.

Payne (4-2) surrendered eight hits and both runs scored against her were unearned.

Righty Katherine Mulzer (0-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in five frames.

Luff and Madigan both registered two hits for Francis Marion in the second contest.  Junior shortstop Lindsey Brown had an RBI double.