FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University battled sixth-ranked University of North Georgia to the precipice, but the Saints secured two late-inning wins, 4-1 in the opener and 3-1 in 11 innings in the nightcap, Saturday evening (March 23) in a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader.

Francis Marion (20-16, 5-7) will host Young Harris College for a PBC twinbill on Monday at 4 p.m.  The games were originally scheduled for Sunday, but were pushed back a day because of forecasted rain affecting the Mountain Lions' travel plans.

In game one, the Patriots took a 1-0 advantage in the first inning.  Junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Luff reached on an error, went to second on an infield single by freshman center fielder Cat Zalud, and both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt.  Luff scored on an infield RBI single by senior catcher Olivia Ferguson, but the Saints escaped further damage by retiring the next two batters and leaving a pair of runners in scoring position.

Luff (11-9) made that run stand up until the seventh inning.  North Georgia then scored four times on only two hits, but while making use of two walks, a hit batter, an error, a wild pitch, and a passed ball.

Luff was 1-for-4 at the plate, while on the mound she struck out nine and surrendered five hits.  Junior second baseman Kristie Hanewinckel was 2-for-3.

North Georgia's Melissa Dickie (8-3) also allowed five hits en route to the win.  She struck out three and walked two.  Catcher Kim McMillan was 3-for-4 to pace the Saints' offensive attack.

In the second contest, both squads scratched out single runs in the sixth inning.  The Saints plated an unearned run on an outfield fielding error.  FMU promptly tied the game when Zalud walked and crossed home plate on a two-out RBI double by senior third baseman Tristan Faile.

Francis Marion junior righty Danielle Payne (4-6) and North Georgia's Courtney Poole (17-4) would allow little else. 

The Saints' third baseman Karlie Gillam smacked a two-run homer to right field with one out in the top of the 11th inning to account for the winning runs.

FMU got the tying runs on base in the bottom of the frame, but Poole fanned the next two batters to end the game.  Poole finished with 12 strikeouts, while allowing just four hits.

Payne scattered seven hits, fanned eight, and walked only two.  Zalud (2-for-4) was the lone Patriot with multiple hits in the second contest.

Francis Marion left eight runners on base, five of whom were stranded in scoring position.