Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 PEMBROKE, NC – Francis Marion University junior catcher Shannan Lopez went 5-for-5 with four singles and a home run, as the Patriots rallied for an 8-4 victory in game two of a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader, Wednesday (April 8) at UNC Pembroke. The Braves held off the Patriots 1-0 in the opener.
FMU (20-18, 6-10) will head to Florida to take on Flagler College for a PBC doubleheader on Saturday at noon. UNC Pembroke's record stands at 21-18 overall and 5-13 in conference play.
Lopez's five-hit performance in game two tied the Patriot single-game record, previously set by Janet Floyd and Lynette Mickle both in a March 27, 1980, contest against Claflin College. Her four singles also tied the FMU single-game mark previously set twice during the 1987 campaign.
Down 2-0 in the finale, Francis Marion mounted its first rally with a pair of two-out runs in the fourth. Junior shortstop Sharee Blomquist singled and later scored on two UNCP throwing errors. Lopez followed with a game-tying RBI single to center field.
The Patriots jumped in front 3-2 in the fifth on a Braves' error, but UNCP answered to regain the lead thanks to run-scoring hits by right fielder Brea Hartley and designated player Morgan Davis in the bottom of the frame.
FMU charged back again to score the contest's final five runs, including a three-run blast by junior Shelby Kelley. Lopez also drilled a solo shot in the seventh to cap off her masterful night.
In addition to her 1-for-2 output at the plate, Kelley (5-6) pitched three shutout innings to claim the game-two victory. Senior Selena Ashley (8-6) took the UNCP loss.
Sophomore left fielder Briana Barzola was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Blomquist (2-for-3) and junior utility player Chessie Miller (2-for-4) turned in multi-hit performances for FMU in game two. Davis was 2-for-4 for UNCP.
FMU senior right-hander Katie Carnes (7-3) shined in the circle in game one, fanning 10 Braves batters and surrendering only five hits in a losing cause.
UNCP junior Katie Saunders (12-10) was the game-one victor, striking out nine and yielding just three FMU hits.
The lone run of the contest was plated when Hartley scored on a Patriot error.
Barzola paced the FMU offense in game one with a 2-for-2 output, while the Braves were led by Davis' 2-for-3 performance. Barzola now owns a six-game hitting streak.
The Patriots stranded runners at first and third in the top of the seventh.
UNC Pembroke 1, Francis Marion 0 (Apr 08, 2015 at Pembroke, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 0 - 0 3 1 (19-18, 5-10 PBC)
UNC Pembroke........ 001 000 X - 1 5 0 (21-17, 5-12 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Katie Carnes and Shannan Lopez. UNC Pembroke - Katie Saunders and Toni Nelson.
Win-Katie Saunders(12-10) Loss-Katie Carnes(7-3) T-2:09 A-0
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 82 Degrees
Francis Marion 8, UNC Pembroke 4 (Apr 08, 2015 at Pembroke, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 000 214 1 - 8 14 0 (20-18, 6-10 PBC)
UNC Pembroke........ 020 020 0 - 4 8 3 (21-18, 5-13 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Kaitlin Munda; Shelby Kelley(5) and Shannan Lopez; Mykah Nevin;
Taylor Barrineau. UNC Pembroke - Selena Ashley; Katie Saunders(7) and Toni Nelson.
Win-Shelby Kelley(5-6) Loss-Selena Ashley(8-6) T-2:24 A-172
HR FMU_SB - Shannan Lopez; Shelby Kelley.
Weather: Clear Skies, 81 Degrees
Munda faced 2 batters in the 5th.
Shelby Kelley
