FLORENCE, SC – Junior outfielder
Hannah Schmidt drove in three runs with two hits and junior third baseman
Chase Booker plated the winning run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly as Francis Marion University downed Flagler College 7-6 to earn a split of Sunday afternoon's (April 11) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader. The Saints won a marathon opening game 10-4 in 10 innings.
Francis Marion (9-11, 5-3) will play a trio of road twinbills this week: Wednesday at UNC Pembroke, Saturday at Columbus State University, and Sunday (April 18) at Georgia Southwestern State University.
In Sunday's second contest, FMU took an early 2-0 lead on Schmidt's two-run single up in the middle in the first inning. Flagler responded by batting around in the third inning and scoring six times – highlighted by a grand slam by second baseman Morgan Murphy.
The Patriots then began chipping away at the deficit. Schmidt ripped an RBI double to right center in the bottom of the third and freshman designated player
Lauren Smallwood followed with a run-scoring single to right and the margin was trimmed to 6-4.
In the fourth, senior shortstop
Ashtyn Patterson dribbled a grounder to short and then beat the throw to first for an infield single. On the play, aggressive base running by Booker had her scoring all the way from second base.
FMU knotted the score in the fifth, when sophomore second baseman
Megan Matsil drove home Smallwood with a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Smallwood led off with a single and junior
Taylor Lutian followed with a bunt single. Looking to sacrifice, Lutian popped up the bunt, but fortunately for FMU it went over the head of the hard-charging third baseman. Both runners moved up a base on a ground out by Matsil, before Booker lifted a high fly ball in foul territory down the right field line. Freshman pinch runner
Katie Smith easily beat the thrown home to end the contest.
FMU sophomore right-hander
Rachel Davis (5-2) earned the win, as she pitched 4.2 scoreless frames in relief of Patriot starter
Taylor Florea.
Flagler reliever Mallorie Sykes (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
Four Patriots had two hits in the second contest: Patterson 2-for-3, junior center fielder
Danielle Karacson 2-for-3, Schmidt 2-for-4, and Smallwood 2-for-3.
In the wild opening game, Francis Marion took a 2-0 advantage in the first frame thanks to a throwing error by Flagler and an RBI-single to left center by Matsil. Patterson clouted a solo homer down the left field line to lead off the FMU third inning and increased the margin to 3-0.
Flagler tied the game with two runs in the fourth and one in the seventh forcing extra innings. After two scoreless frames, including the Patriots leaving the bases loaded in the eighth, Flagler scored seven times on eight hits in the 10th inning.
FMU got one run back in the bottom of the 10th on a sacrifice fly by Booker to account for the 10-4 final.
Karacson registered three hits in game one, while Matsil and senior left fielder
Jordan Carlson both two.
Flagler third baseman Mackenzie Smith went 5-for-6 in the opener and finished the doubleheader with seven base hits.
FMU junior righty
Janecia Hemingway (0-5) took the loss after relieving Davis in the top of the eighth and pitching out of a jam. Flagler starter Kyra Gipson (9-4) recorded the win with a 170-pitch complete-game effort.
Flagler College 10, Francis Marion Univ. 4 (Apr 11, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Flagler College......... 000 200 100 7 - 10 18 1 (11-12, 5-4 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 201 000 000 1 - 4 8 3 (8-11, 4-3 PBC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Flagler College - Kyra Gipson and Kyleigh Taylor. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rachel Davis;
Janecia Hemingway(8);
Taylor Florea(10) and
Sarah Harkins.
Win-Kyra Gipson (9-4) Loss-
Janecia Hemingway (0-5) T-3:33 A-75
HR FMU_SB -
Ashtyn Patterson (3).
Weather: Overcast, 76, Winds SSW 13 MPH
Davis faced 1 batter in the 8th.
Francis Marion Univ. 7, Flagler College 6 (Apr 11, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Flagler College…….... 006 000 0 - 6 11 2 (11-13, 5-5 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 202 110 1 - 7 10 1 (9-11, 5-3 PBC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Flagler College - Madelyn Wise; Mallorie Sykes(6) and Alexis Ridgell.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Taylor Florea;
Rachel Davis(3) and
Sarah Harkins.
Win-
Rachel Davis (5-2) Loss-Mallorie Sykes (0-2) T-2:16
HR FLG - Morgan Murphy (4).
Weather: Overcast, 79, Winds SW 17 MPH
