FLORENCE, SC – Freshman shortstop Taylor Johnson scampered home from second base to score the winning run on a one-out error in the bottom of the seventh in game one and sophomore right-hander Samantha Wroblewski twirled a three-hit shutout in the second contest as Francis Marion University swept a doubleheader from Flagler College, 6-5 and 3-0, Sunday afternoon (March 6) in Peach Belt Conference softball action.

Francis Marion improves to 17-7 overall and evens its conference mark at 2-2.  The Patriots will begin a span of six consecutive road doubleheaders with a twinbill at local PBC rival UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

In Sunday's opener, Flagler tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh inning.  However, FMU answered with the winning run in the bottom half of the frame.  Senior first baseman Shannan Lopez led off with a single to left center.  Consecutive walks were then issued to Johnson and junior right fielder Kaylee Childers loading the bases with no outs.  Junior center fielder Mikala Barnhart then hit a grounder to third base where the fielder threw home for the force out.  After securing the ball for the force out, the Flagler catcher then tried to transfer the ball from her glove to her throwing hand in case there was a chance of a double play.  The ball popped out of her glove and rolled toward the backstop allowing Johnson to race home with the winning run.

Johnson finished game one 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two driven in.  Childers was also 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while leadoff batter Briana Barzola was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

FMU senior righty Shelby Kelley (9-6) recorded the complete-game win.  She scattered seven hits, walked only one, and struck out four.

Flagler closer Tinsley Smith (2-1) entered the game in the fifth inning holding a 4-2 lead, but allowed three runs in the fifth and the deciding tally in the seventh.

Francis Marion held a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth, but the Saints (16-11, 1-3) scored four times, highlighted by a three-run homer off the bat of junior catcher Mackenzie Conley.

The Patriots rallied to regain the lead with a three-run fifth inning.  Freshman catcher Chelsea Welty provided a run-scoring single down the left field line and Johnson blooped a two-run single to shallow right.

In the second game, Wroblewski (8-1) allowed only three singles, walked no one, and fanned one.  She recorded 12 outs in the air.

FMU scored twice in the bottom of the first off Flagler starter Callie Reed (6-4).  Barzola led off the inning with a walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Senior designated player Mykah Nevin accounted for the second tally with a sacrifice fly.

The Patriots added an insurance run in the second as Childers led off with a triple to the right-center field gap and came home on a two-out RBI single through the left side by Barzola.

Wroblewski's toughest inning was the sixth when she stranded runners at first and third.

FMU managed only four hits in game two: Barzola, Johnson, Childers, and junior second baseman Taylor Brunson.

The Patriots have won seven of their last eight contests.