FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie game two, but Lander University responded with a two-run homer from left fielder Bethany Beggs in the top of the eighth to down the Patriots 5-3 and sweep their Friday afternoon (March 29) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader.  An RBI-double by shortstop Casey Corbitt and a run-scoring single by winning pitcher Kelsey Davis capped a two-run sixth frame that propelled Lander to 3-1 win in the opener.

Francis Marion drops to 22-20 overall and 7-9 in the Peach Belt, while Lander improves to 13-24 and 3-11.  FMU will play its final home contests of the year on Senior Day, Tuesday at 4 p.m. against Pfeiffer University.

In game one, both teams scored single runs in the third frame.  The Patriot tally came when junior center fielder Olivia Zielinski led off with an infield single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, took third on a wild pitch, and came home on squeeze bunt by senior catcher Olivia Ferguson.

Lander's two-run sixth upped Davis' record to 4-8.  She held the Patriots to four hits. Two of those hits came in the bottom of the seventh when the Patriots put runners on second and third with one out.  However, Davis recovered to get the next two batters to ground out.

Junior right-hander Taylor Luff (12-11) took the game-one loss.  She allowed nine hits and fanned 11 batters to become on the second FMU pitcher to register 200 strikeouts in a season. Her season total of 210 is eight shy of Michaela Wolf's team record of 218 set in 2008.

In the second contest, FMU trailed 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but rallied to force extra innings. Luff had an RBI single to draw the Patriots to within 3-1with the bases still loaded and one out.  Junior infielder Kristie Hanewinckel grounded out to first base to plate a second run and on the play the ball was thrown away allowing the third and tying run to come home.

After a lead-off walk in the top of the eighth, Luff relieved FMU starter Danielle Payne (5-8) and promptly surrendered the two-run homer to Beggs. Beggs had earlier hit a solo homer in the fourth.

Payne allowed four hits and four runs (three earned), while striking out six and walking two.

Davis (5-8) relieved Bearcat starter M.K. Pegram in the seventh and earned the win.  Pegram struck out eight and walked five in 6.1 innings. Pegram held FMU hitless until the seventh-inning rally.

Zielinski had a hit in both games for Francis Marion.

Begg finished the twinbill with three hits.