SAVANNAH, GA - Junior right-hander Danielle Payne pitched a four-hit shutout and drove in two runs to secure Francis Marion University a 2-0 upset of third-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University and a split of Saturday afternoon's (April 6) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader.  In game one, FMU senior catcher Olivia Ferguson homered and drove in two runs in a 3-2 loss.

Francis Marion, now 24-22 overall and 8-10 in the conference, will continue their regular-season ending road trip as they take on Flagler College on Sunday with the doubleheader starting at noon. Armstrong drops to 28-5-1 and 11-3.

Payne (6-9) went the distance only allowing four hits to the Pirates, who had the highest batting average in the PBC, entering the contest at .311. Payne struck out four, while walking only one. She also helped her own cause at the plate, when she singled up the middle in the top of the fourth to drive in the only runs of the game.

FMU senior third baseman Tristan Faile went 3-for-3 at the plate scoring a run, while junior Taylor Luff went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot. Junior right fielder Megan Smith scored the other run.

Pirate starter Shelby Duff (7-2) was tagged with the loss, while four different players registered one hit.

Armstrong first baseman Hannah Reppert drilled a two-out three-run homer to left in the fifth inning to stake the Pirates to a 3-0 lead in game one.

In the next half inning, the Patriots trimmed the margin to 3-2 when junior second baseman Kristie Hanewinckel led off with a double and came home when Ferguson hit her first home run of the year, a two-run shot to center field.  Hanewinckel was 2-for-3 in the opener.

Luff (13-12) took the tough loss in game one.  She pitched six innings, giving up five hits and three runs, while striking out seven. She extended her team record strikeout total to 229 this season.

Armstrong start Megan Barnwell (17-3) got the victory, pitching seven innings and allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out six.