FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore shortstop
Megan Matsil blasted a three-run homer and sophomore right-handers
Rachel Davis and
Taylor Florea tossed complete-game efforts to help Francis Marion University to a sweep of Sunday's (Feb. 7) non-conference softball doubleheader with Converse College. FMU rallied with six unanswered runs to take the opener 8-5 and claimed the second game 10-2 in six innings.
Francis Marion (3-1) will host Lenoir-Rhyne University for a doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m.
In game one, Davis scattered eight hits and allowed only one earned run to improve to 2-0 this season. She struck out six and walked two.
Sophomore catcher
Sarah Harkins led FMU at the plate with three hits, three runs scored, and one driven in. Davis also registered two hits at the plate, including an RBI double. Freshman third baseman
Lauren Smallwood plated three runs with her first collegiate hit (a 2-run double) and a sacrifice fly.
Converse (1-3) scored twice in the top of the first, but FMU answered with two runs in the last of the third. The Valkyries scored three times in the fourth to go ahead 5-2.
However, the Patriots answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and added single tallies in the fifth and sixth frames. The four-run outburst included Davis' RBI double, an RBI-double by freshman outfielder
Katie Smith, and a run-scoring single from Harkins with the final run crossing home plate on a two-out dropped fly ball.
Freshman righty Jordan Moore (1-1) took the loss for Converse.
In the second contest, Smallwood gave FMU a 1-0 advantage in the first frame with an RBI groundout. That lead was erased when the Valkyries scored twice in the third. Francis Marion quicked knotted the score at 2-2 when Harkins walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third.
Matsil drilled her three-run shot over the left center field fence in the bottom of the fifth. The Indian Trial, N.C., native had only one previous extra-base hit in 31 career games. Three batters later, junior right fielder
Hannah Schmidt launched a two-run homer over the left field wall staking FMU to a 7-2 lead.
An RBI single by Matsil in the sixth followed by an unearned run on a throwing error allowed FMU to end the game with the 8-run mercy rule.
Smith led the Patriots with three hits in game two, while Matsil joined Davis, Smallwood, and senior second baseman
Ashtyn Patterson with two hits apiece.
Florea (1-1) allowed only four hits, while fanning eight and walking six. Righty Reagan Owens (0-2), the first of three Converse pitchers, was saddled with the loss.
Harkins, a pre-season All-Conference selection, has now reached base safely in her last 24 contests dating back to last season.
Francis Marion Univ. 8, Converse College 5 (Feb 07, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Converse College.... 200 300 0 - 5 8 3 (1-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 002 411 X - 8 10 4 (2-1)
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Pitchers: Converse College - Jordan Moore; Daija Irizarry (4); Savannah Rodgers(5) and Dallas Singleton. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rachel Davis and
Sarah Harkins.
Win-
Rachel Davis (2-0) Loss-Jordan Moore (1-1) T-2:21 A-58
Weather: Overcast,48,Winds NNW@6 mph
Francis Marion Univ. 10, Converse College 2 (Feb 07, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Converse College.... 002 000 - 2 4 3 (1-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 101 062 - 10 15 1 (3-1)
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Pitchers: Converse College - Reagan Owens; Maria Luce (5); S. Rodgers (6) and Dallas Singleton; Julianne Outlaw. Francis Marion Univ. -
Taylor Florea and
Sarah Harkins.
Win-
Taylor Florea (1-1) Loss-Reagan Owens (0-2) T-2:23
HR FMU_SB -
Megan Matsil (1);
Hannah Schmidt (1).
Weather: Partly Cloudy,51,Winds NNW@12
Luce faced 3 batters in the 6th.
