FLORENCE, SC – Junior twins Jessica and Jaimie Harney each homered off the big scoreboard in left field and combined to drive in seven runs as Francis Marion University claimed a 9-4 win over Chowan University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 17) in the fourth game of the Patriots Invitational Softball Tournament.

Chowan won the first game of the day 2-0 over Mercy College. FMU (6-2) played Queens University of Charlotte later on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The tournament will conclude on Sunday with Mercy playing Chowan at 10 a.m. and FMU meeting Mercy at noon.  Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students.

Five Patriots registered two hits: junior shortstop Taylor Johnson, senior third baseman Sam Chiudina, freshman center fielder Karson Parker, and both Harneys.

FMU freshman right-hander Reece Davis (3-1) pitched the first four frames to earn the win.  Sophomore righty Sydney Holland tossed the final three frames and picked up her second save of 2018.

FMU grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a two-out RBI-single to left field by junior catcher Chelsea Welty in the bottom of the first inning. Jaimie Harney drilled a three-run home run to left in the third to up the margin to 4-0.

Chiudina plated FMU's fifth run with an infield single in the fourth, and the next batter, Jessica Harney, belted a long grand slam high off the scoreboard in left as the Patriots went up 9-0.

Centerfielder Kris Neal led Chowan (4-5) with three hits, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning.

Johnson and Welty both extended their season-long hitting streaks to eight contests.

Chowan starter Shannon Buchanan (2-2) was tagged with the loss.

Francis Marion Univ. 9, Chowan University 4 (Feb 17, 2018 at Florence, SC)
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Chowan University... 000 022 0 -  4  7  0      (4-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 103 500 X -  9 13  0      (6-2)
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Pitchers: Chowan University - BUCHANAN,Shannon; FLORES,EmaRae(6) and STIGLER,Lindsey.
Francis Marion Univ. - Reece Davis; Sydney Holland(5) and Chelsea Welty.
Win-Reece Davis (3-1)  Save-Sydney Holland (2)  Loss-BUCHANAN,Shannon (2-2)  T-1:58  A-124
HR CU - NEAL,Kris (1).
HR FMU_SB - Jessica Harney (3); Jaimie Harney (1).
Weather: Overcast,60,Winds SSE @ 12 mph
Davis faced 3 batters in the 5th.