AMERICUS, GA — Junior Janecia Hemingway belted a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and junior outfielder Danielle Karacson tripled to drive in two runs in the eighth as Francis Marion University rallied for a 4-2 win in extra innings over Georgia Southwestern State University and a split of Sunday afternoon's (April 18) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader. The Hurricanes took game one 6-4.
 
Francis Marion (10-16, 6-8) will return to Florence to host nationally-ranked University of North Georgia on Friday at 4 p.m. Attendance is limited to 250 and that includes only season ticket holders, FMU students with pre-acquired tickets, and family members of players and staff with pre-reserved tickets. No walk-up game-day tickets will be sold.
 
Game one saw two scoreless frames before the Hurricanes (13-13, 4-8) put three runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning. However, the Patriots responded by exploding for four runs in the fifth. Senior shortstop Ashtyn Patterson executed a perfect bunt down the third baseline and beat the errant throw by the Hurricane third baseman. Sophomore second baseman Megan Matsil scored from second on the play. 
 
Sophomore catcher Sarah Harkins continued the Patriots rally by plating senior outfielder Jordan Carlson with an RBI-single up the middle. Karacson hit an RBI-grounder that saw both Patterson and Harkins scored on yet another errant Hurricane throw as FMU took a 4-3 lead.  However, GSW answered with three runs in the sixth to take game one, 6-4.
 
Zoe Willis (6-4) picked up the game one win for the Hurricanes, while sophomore Rachel Davis (5-5) was the loser in relief of starter Taylor Florea.
 
In game two, the Hurricanes struck first again. This time on a solo home run by Chloe Sneed. The Patriots answered with a two-run home run to left-center by Hemingway in the top of the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. GSW tied the score in the fifth.
 
After two scoreless innings, the two squads headed to extra innings. In the top of the eighth with runners on first and second, Karacson tripled to right-center field scoring both Harkins and Patterson. 
 
In the bottom of the frame, GSW loaded the bases with two out. Florea came on to pitch and got a fielder's choice to end the game and earn her first save.
 
Hemingway (1-5) picked up her first win of the season, with 7.2 innings of work.
 
Matsil led FMU with three hits in the doubleheader.
 
 
Ga. Southwestern 6, Francis Marion 4 (4/18/2021 at Americus, Ga.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 040 0 -  4  9  3      (9-16, 5-8 PBC)
Ga. Southwestern.... 003 003 X -  6  9  2      (13-12, 4-7 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Taylor Florea; Rachel Davis(3) and Sarah Harkins. Ga. Southwestern -
S. Gibson; Z. Willis(6) and A. Duffey.
Win-Z. Willis(6-4)  Loss-Rachel Davis(5-5)  T-2:28  A-135
Weather: 79 degrees, mostly sunny, WNW
Florea faced 5 batters in the 3rd.
S. Gibson faced 2 batters in the 6th.
 
Francis Marion 4, Ga. Southwestern 2 (4/18/2021 at Americus, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 000 200 02 -  4  5  0      (10-16, 6-8 PBC)
Ga. Southwestern.... 010 010 00 -  2  9  1      (13-13, 4-8 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Janecia Hemingway; Taylor Florea(8) and Sarah Harkins.
Ga. Southwestern - Z. Willis; S. Gibson(5) and A. Duffey.
Win-Janecia Hemingway(1-5)  Save-Taylor Florea(1)  Loss-S. Gibson(3-7)  T-2:32  A-135
HR FMU_SB - Janecia Hemingway.
HR GSW - C. Sneed.
Weather: 75 degrees, mostly sunny, W 7