FLORENCE, SC – Junior infielder Ashtyn Patterson and junior outfielder Jordan Carlson helped spark Francis Marion University to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Mars Hill University, Sunday (Feb. 16) afternoon in the final game of the Patriot Invitational Softball Tournament. The game was made official after five innings due to inclement weather.

At 12-1, Francis Marion is off to its best start since the 2009 squad also started 12-1.  FMU will travel for a doubleheader at Catawba College on Wednesday with the first pitch set for 3 p.m. The Patriots will return home to host the Swamp Fox Sizzler Tournament next weekend (Feb 21-23).

Junior right-handed pitcher Katelyn Ellard (7-1) earned the win in relief for FMU.  She pitched three innings and surrendered only two hits and struck out three.  Ellard registered the win in four of the team's five victories over the weekend.

Both Patterson and Carlson, batting in the first two spots in the Patriot order, rapped out two hits.

Mars Hill (1-5) jumped to an early lead by scoring two runs in the top of the first. The runs came home on a two-run double to right field by third baseman Ashley Evans. 

A two-out rally in the bottom of the third accounted for FMU's first tally.  Patterson doubled to deep center field, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single to right center by Carlson.

The Patriots rallied in the game-deciding fourth inning with a trio of runs.  With one out, freshman shortstop Megan Matsil single down the right field line and freshman catcher Sarah Harkins walked. Freshman designated player Savanna Rosson then doubled down the left field line to plate Matsil and tie the game at 2-2 with runners now on second and third. Sophomore first baseman Addie May lifted a sacrifice fly to deep left that allowed Harkins to score the go-ahead run. Sophomore center fielder Danielle Karacson followed with an RBI-single through the left side to push home pinch runner Liberty Schultz with the final run.

The Lions' Jennifer Poston (0-2) pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and issuing one walk.

Matsil has a modest six-game hitting streak.

Post-game comments from FMU head coach Stacey Vallee

Francis Marion Univ. 4, Mars Hill University 2 (Feb 16, 2020 at Florence, SC)
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Mars Hill University   200 00 -  2  4  0      (1-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 001 3X -  4  7  2      (12-1)
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Pitchers: Mars Hill University - Jennifer Poston and Emiley Burriss. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rachel Davis; Katelyn Ellard (3) and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Katelyn Ellard (7-1)  Loss-Jennifer Poston (0-2)  T-1:54  A-91
Weather: Cloudy,Lt rain,56