FLORENCE, SC – Freshman catcher Sarah Harkins rapped out four hits, including her second career grand slam, and drove in six runs to key Francis Marion University to 7-4 and 9-1 non-conference wins over King University (Tenn.), Saturday (Feb. 29) afternoon in softball action.

Francis Marion (18-3) will travel to Limestone College on Sunday for a 1 p.m. twinbill. FMU's next home game will be Saturday, March 7, as it hosts Wingate University at 1 p.m.

FMU junior right-hander Katelyn Ellard earned the win in game one to improve to 10-3 as tossed 6.1 innings. She allowed nine hits and four runs, while fanning three. Sophomore righty Janecia Hemingway entered the circle in the seventh inning with the bases loaded to get the final two outs and earn her first career save.

The Patriots were first on the board in the third inning when junior infielder Ashtyn Patterson singled home sophomore centerfielder Danielle Karacson, who led the inning off with a double. FMU scored six runs in the fifth as they went through the lineup registering four hits and taking advantage of two errors to make it a 7-0 margin heading into the sixth. Freshman Savana Rosson delivered a two-run pinch-hit single and Hemingway doubled home two runs to highlight the frame.

King senior pitcher Casey Gilbert (4-3) singled in the sixth while battery mate Bailey Deason doubled to right field to put the pair in scoring position starting a rally for the Tornado. After a groundout, sophomore left fielder Erin Foster homered to left field to score the trio. King scored once more in the seventh, before Hemingway ended the comeback.

Hemingway (5-0) started game-two in the circle and threw a complete game, allowing only two hits and one run in six frames, while fanning six.

FMU wasted no time getting their bats going in the second contest, scoring a run in the first as Hemingway reached on a fielding error and scored on an infield single by Harkins.

Francis Marion scored a five runs in the third. The Patriots loaded the bases with singles by Patterson, sophomore right fielder Liberty Schultz, and Hemingway. Patterson then scored on an error by the catcher as freshman designated player Carson Shannon reached base. Harkins came to the plate and hit her second grand slam of the season to left field giving the Patriots a 6-0 advantage.

King score a single run in the top of the sixth, but FMU ended the game by the eight-run mercy rule with three tallies in the bottom of the sixth. Junior left fielder Jordan Carlson singled up the middle, stole second, and scored as Patterson doubled down the left field line. Patterson came home when Shannon singled through the right side, and Harkins secured the early ending to the game as she tripled down the right field line scoring Shannon.

King starter Nikole Counts (0-4) took the game-two loss.

Patterson finished the day with four hits and two RBIs, while Hemingway had a hit in each game.

Post-game comments from FMU head coach Stacey Vallee

Francis Marion Univ. 7, King University (TN) 4 (Feb 29, 2020 at Florence, SC)
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King University (TN) 000 003 1 -  4  9  2      (7-8)
Francis Marion Univ. 001 060 X -  7  7  0      (17-3)
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Pitchers: King University (TN) - Casey Gilbert and Bailey Deason. Francis Marion Univ. - Katelyn Ellard; Janecia Hemingway(7) and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Katelyn Ellard (10-3)  Loss-Casey Gilbert (4-3) Save – Janecia Hemingway (1)
T-1:54  A-100
HR KING - Erin Foster (4).
Weather: Partly Sunny,53,Winds NW@14mph

Francis Marion Univ. 9, King University (TN) 1 (Feb 29, 2020 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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King University (TN) 000 001  -  1  2  1      (7-9)
Francis Marion Univ. 105 003  -  9 11  0      (18-3)
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Pitchers: King University (TN) - Nikole Counts and Meagan Puckett. Francis Marion Univ. -
Janecia Hemingway and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Janecia Hemingway(5-0)  Loss-Nikole Counts(0-4)  T-1:50
HR FMU_SB - Sarah Harkins (3).
Weather: 55,partly sunny,WindsWNW@15mph