FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore catcher Chelsea Welty registered six hits, including a homer and two doubles, and drove in five runs to lead Francis Marion University to a sweep of Claflin University on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 5) in non-conference softball action.  FMU won the opener 8-0 and then took the second game 14-3 with both contests ending after five innings.

Francis Marion improves to 3-1 and will play a twinbill at Newbery College on Wednesday at 1 p.m.  The Patriots return home on Saturday to celebrate Homecoming with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Belmont Abbey College.

Freshman right-hander Sydney Holland (2-1) tossed a one-hit shutout in game one.  She struck out nine and walked only one.

Freshman designated player Shania Domingue went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one driven in, while Welty was 2-for-3 with a run scored, a double, and an RBI.  Junior third baseman Sam Chiudina and senior outfielder Mikala Barnhart also had two hits, with Chiudina plating two runs with a double.

In game two, Welty went 4-for-4 with a double, a homer, and four runs driven in.  Both Domingue and Barnhart had two hits, with Domingue driving in three runs.

Junior righty Samantha Wroblewski (1-0) made her first start of 2017 and allowed six hits, while fanning four.

Erica Davis took the game-one loss, while LaKaylin Lee absorbed the loss in game two.  Kayla Cato went 2-for-3 in game two for the Panthers with a run scored and an RBI.

Francis Marion Univ. 8, Claflin University 0 (Feb 05, 2017 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Claflin University..     000 00 -  0  1  1
Francis Marion Univ. 105 11 -  8 10  0      (2-1)
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Pitchers: Claflin University - Erica Davis; Tiaria Norman(4) and Kayla Sanderson.
Francis Marion Univ. - Sydney Holland and Chelsea Welty.
Win-Sydney Holland(2-1)  Loss-Erica Davis  T-1:45  A-125
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 52, WSW 7 mph

Francis Marion Univ. 14, Claflin University 3 (Feb 05, 2017 at Florenmce, SC) (Game 2)
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Claflin University..    000 03 -  3  6  4
Francis Marion Univ. 114 8X - 14 12  1      (3-1)
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Pitchers: Claflin University - LaKaylin Lee; Yemaya Rich(4) and Chelsea Hall.
Francis Marion Univ. - Samantha Wroblewski and Chelsea Welty.
Win-Samantha Wroblewski(1-0)  Loss-LaKaylin Lee  T-1:40  A-0
HR FMU_SB - Chelsea Welty.
Weather: Sunny, 59
L. Lee faced 4 batters in the 4th.