FLORENCE, SC – Freshmen led the way as Francis Marion University swept Barton College 5-3 and 14-3 in non-conference softball action on Sunday (Mar. 8) afternoon.

Francis Marion improves to 24-3 on the season and will begin Peach Belt Conference play next weekend as the Patriots travels to seventh-ranked University of North Georgia on Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and then sixth-ranked Young Harris College on Sunday at noon.

Patriot junior right-hander Katelyn Ellard threw seven innings in Sunday's first game against the Bulldogs, scattering seven hits and fanning 11 batters to improve to 15-3.

FMU scored first in the second inning on a fielding error, but Barton (10-12) responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. Francis Marion regained the lead with two runs in the third inning. The runs came on a sacrifice fly from freshman catcher Sarah Harkins and an RBI-single to left field by freshman designated player Savana Rosson.

The Patriots extended their lead in the fifth as Rosson rapped out another run-scoring single and freshman shortstop Megan Matsil stole home.  The Bulldogs cut into the Patriot 5-1 lead in the sixth as they scored on an RBI singles from pinch hitter Hayley Grizzle and second baseman Emily Bell, but Ellard held the Bulldogs off in the seventh without allowing a base runner.

In the circle for FMU in the second game was freshman righty Rachel Davis (4-0) who put in five innings of work, allowing only five hits to earn the win.

FMU jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the second as sophomore first baseman Addie May hit an RBI single to left and freshman right fielder Jaiden Kiser followed with a run-scoring single to right center. The Patriots scored again in the third as Rosson hit another RBI single to center field to give the squad a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth.

Barton responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Grizzle, now playing centerfield, singled to right center to make it a 3-1 game.

The Patriot bats came alive in the top of the fifth to score 11 runs. The scoring started as Matsil hit a two-RBI double and then came around to score on a single by freshman left fielder Carson Shannon. Harkins doubled home two runs and then advanced to third on a throwing error. She scored as freshman pinch-hitter Kyla Koch singled to left center. A few batters later, sophomore center fielder Danielle Karacson hit an RBI single to left center and was then brought home on a two-run double to left field hit by Kiser. Kiser then scored on a throwing error to round out the inning.

Barton tallied two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but with FMU leading 14-3 the game was then ended by the 8-run mercy rule.

FMU junior second baseman Ashtyn Patterson finished the twinbill with five hits, while Matsil had four hits and three RBIs, Kiser three hits and three RBIs, Rosson three hits and three RBIs, Shannon three hits and an RBI, and sophomore third baseman Janecia Hemingway three hits. 

Francis Marion 5, Barton 3 (Mar 08, 2020 at Wilson, N.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 012 020 0 -  5  9  3      (23-3)
Barton..............      010 002 0 -  3  7  2      (10-11)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Katelyn Ellard and Sarah Harkins. Barton - AnnaKate Gilchrist;
Shelby Talley(4) and McCrae Knapp.
Win-Katelyn Ellard(15-3)  Loss-AnnaKate Gilchrist  T-2:30  A-125
Weather: 65, clear, warming up

Francis Marion 14, Barton 3 (Mar 08, 2020 at Wilson, N.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 021 0(11) - 14 20  0      (24-3)
Barton..............      000 12    -  3  6  4      (10-12)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Rachel Davis and Sarah Harkins. Barton - Emma Liles;
AnnaKate Gilchrist(4); Jordan Blake(5); Shelby Talley(5) and Kelsey Carroll.
Win-Rachel Davis(4-0)  Loss-Emma Liles  T-1:35  A-125
Weather: 65, clear
E. Liles faced 2 batters in the 4th.
A. Gilchrist faced 1 batter in the 5th.