FLORENCE, SC – Freshman catcher Sarah Harkins delivered a run-scoring walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel Francis Marion University to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Emmanuel College (Ga.), Saturday afternoon (Feb. 22) on the second day of the Swamp Fox Sizzler Softball Tournament.  Later on Saturday night, FMU dropped just its second game of the year, 3-1 to Queens University of Charlotte.

Prior to the loss to Queens, Francis Marion's 14-1 start was the best since the 2003 squad opened 18-0.

The three-day tournament will conclude on Sunday with Emmanuel playing Frostburg State University at 10 a.m. and FMU playing Frostburg State at noon.  Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for student, and FMU students are admitted free with identification.

In the win over Emmanuel, the Patriots trailed 1-0 following a solo home run by third baseman Abbey Sims in the top of the fifth.  FMU responded with the tying run in the last of the sixth when junior third baseman Ashtyn Patterson doubled home sophomore left fielder Liberty Schultz with one out.

Utilizing the international tiebreaker rule where a runner is placed on second to start the extra innings, Francis Marion held the Lions scoreless in the top of the eighth.  In the bottom half of the frame, sophomore center fielder Danielle Karacson was the runner placed on second.  She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Schultz, and following a pop out, scampered home on Harkins' base hit through the right side.

Junior right-hander Katelyn Ellard (9-2) earned the victory with two perfect frames of relief work that included four strikeouts.  Sophomore righty Janecia Hemingway pitched the first five innings and surrendered only one run on five hits with one strikeout.

In the nightcap against Queens, FMU took a 1-0 advantage in the first when Patterson was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on a two-out RBI-double by freshman right fielder Carson Shannon.

The Royals (9-6) quickly answered with the tying run in the second and added single tallies in fourth (a solo homer by McKenzie McCullen) and sixth innings.  FMU left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third.  Righty Shannon McGuire (5-1) handcuffed the Patriots on only four hits, while striking out four and issuing no walks.  She retired the final nine batters in order.

Ellard registered a complete game in the losing effort, giving up two earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts.

Patterson, Harkins, and freshman shortstop Megan Matsil all had one hit in both games.

Post-game comments from FMU head coach Stacey Vallee

Francis Marion Univ. 2, Emmanuel College 1 (Feb 22, 2020 at Florence, SC)
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Emmanuel College.... 000 010 00 -  1  5  0      (2-5)
Francis Marion Univ.. 000 001 01 -  2  6  0      (14-1)
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Pitchers: Emmanuel College - Madison Abell and Lexie Tallen. Francis Marion Univ. -
Janecia Hemingway; Katelyn Ellard (7) and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Katelyn Ellard (9-1)  Loss-Madison Abell (1-3)  T-2:00  A-110
HR EMMANUEL - Abbey Sims.
Weather: Sunny, 48, Winds calm

Queens U Charlotte 3, Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Feb 22, 2020 at Florence, SC)
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Queens U Charlotte.. 010 101 0 -  3  6  1      (9-6)
Francis Marion Univ. 100 000 0 -  1  4  1      (14-2)
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Pitchers: Queens U Charlotte - Shannon  McGuire and Jordan Hunt. Francis Marion Univ. -
Katelyn Ellard and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Shannon McGuire (5-1)  Loss-Katelyn Ellard (9-2)  T-1:52  A-60
HR QUSB20 - McKenzie McCullen.
Weather: 52 clear skies Winds WNW@4 mph