NEWBERRY, SC – Francis Marion University junior outfielder Danielle Karacson belted a home run in game one and junior outfielder Hannah Schmidt had a pair of hits in game two, but the Patriots dropped Sunday's (Feb. 28) non-conference softball doubleheader to Newberry College, losing 6-3 and 5-0.
 
Francis Marion (4-4) will play a twinbill at North Greenville University on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
 
In Sunday's opener, the Patriots overcame an early 2-0 Newberry lead.  Freshman outfielder Katie Smith delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the second inning.  Karacson knotted the score with a solo homer to left center field with one out in the third.  Later in the inning, Smith walked, went to third on a double by senior shortstop Ashtyn Patterson, and came home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Megan Matsil.
 
That 3-2 advantage stood until the last of the seventh when Wolves second baseman Hailey Hill blasted a walk-off grand slam.
 
Junior right-hander Janecia Hemingway (0-2) was the losing pitcher, while Kasey Widmyer (3-1) earned the win for Newberry.
 
In the second contest, Alexandrea Sullivan (5-0) tossed a 2-hitter for Newberry, while third baseman Hannah Towery hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs.
 
Schmidt registered both hits for Francis Marion, singles in the second and fourth innings. 
 
Patriot sophomore righty Taylor Florea (2-2) allowed four runs in two innings of work, while sophomore right-hander Rachel Davis worked the final four innings allowing only one run.
 
 
Newberry 6, Francis Marion 3 (Feb 28, 2021 at Newberry, S.C.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 010 200 0 -  3  6  1      (4-3)
Newberry............   200 000 4 -  6  8  1      (8-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Janecia Hemingway and Sarah Harkins. Newberry - A. Ball;
Kasey Widmyer (4) and R. Glanz.
Win-Kasey Widmyer (3-1)  Loss-Janecia Hemingway (0-2)  T-2:45  A-58
HR FMU_SB - Danielle Karacson (2).
HR NBY - Hailey Hill (1).
 
Newberry 5, Francis Marion 0 (Feb 28, 2021 at Newberry, S.C.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 000 000 0 -  0  2  0      (4-4)
Newberry............   212 000 X -  5 11  0      (9-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Taylor Florea; Rachel Davis(3) and Sarah Harkins. Newberry - Alexandrea Sullivan and A. Valentine.
Win-Alexandrea Sullivan (5-0)  Loss-Taylor Florea (2-2)  T-2:14  A-69
HR NBY - Hannah Towery 2 (6).
Florea faced 1 batter in the 3rd.