COLUMBUS, GA – Senior Katie Carnes went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, while pitching a complete game to lead Francis Marion University to a 10-6 victory over Columbus State University in the second game of a Sunday (March 29) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader.  A combined four-hitter propelled the Cougars past the Patriots 10-2 in the opener.

Francis Marion (19-15, 5-7) will continue its long road trip at GRU Augusta in another PBC twinbill on Thursday at 2 p.m.  CSU is now 19-17 and 5-7 in PBC action.

With FMU already ahead 2-0 in the top of the third, Carnes (7-1) bashed a two-run home run to center to give the Patriots a 4-0 advantage.  

Carnes' round-tripper was only the beginning of the scoring for FMU in the frame.  Junior utility player Chessie Miller followed by driving in two runs on a single down the left field line, scoring seniors Shelby Mathews and Taylor (TJ) Fain to stretch the FMU lead to 6-0.  Freshman Tori Gaskins delivered an RBI sacrifice fly and sophomore Mikala Barnhart connected on an RBI single to finish the inning for FMU – which gave the Patriots an 8-0 advantage.

CSU answered with a tally in the third, another in the fourth and two more in the sixth to trim the FMU edge to 8-4. 

But in the seventh, RBI hits from sophomore Danielle Myers and Carnes gave Francis Marion two insurance runs to put the game out of reach.

Senior Kristen Carr (9-6) was the game one loser for CSU.

In Sunday's opener, freshman utility player McKenzie Fagioli went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored and center fielder Kia Smith went 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Cougars offense.

Sophomore left fielder Briana Barzola produced half of FMU's four hits and drove in both runs to pace the Patriot bats.  Barzola finished the twinbill with six hits in eight at bats.

FMU freshman lefty Kaitlin Munda (8-8) suffered the defeat in the circle, while CSU senior Taylor Turner (7-3) captured the game one win.