FLORENCE, SC – Ninth-ranked Young Harris College swept a doubleheader from Francis Marion University winning 8-2 and 8-0, Sunday afternoon (April 25) in Peach Belt Conference softball play.
 
Francis Marion (10-20, 6-12) will conclude its 2021 season on Sunday, May 2, at 1 p.m. with a Senior Day twinbill against Lander University.  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.
 
In Sunday's opener, three home runs among the first seven Young Harris batters allowed the Mountain Lions to build a 6-0 advantage after just two innings.
 
After stranding two runners on base in the fifth, FMU finally broke through against Young Harris starter Sara King (7-2) with two runs in the sixth.  Sophomore infielder Megan Matsil singled home junior outfielder Danielle Karacson, and Matsil would later score on the second of two wild pitches in the inning.  However, the Mountain Lions added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh to account for the final margin.
 
Francis Marion sophomore right-hander Rachel Davis (5-6) was the losing pitcher.
 
In the second contest, Young Harris sophomore righty Jill Dixon (10-1) limited the Patriots to three hits as the Mountain Lions improved to 29-8 overall and 16-2 in the PBC.
 
After Young Harris scored once in the top of the first, Francis Marion put runners on third in both the first and second frames, but could not manage to push a tally across.
 
The Mountain Lions scored five times in the fourth and added insurance tallies in the fifth and seventh innings.
 
Sophomore right-hander Taylor Florea (4-8) took the game-two loss as she worked six innings.
 
Matsil and senior infielder Ashtyn Patterson had a hit in both ends of the twinbill for the Patriots. 
 
Patterson also tuned in the defensive play of the day as she caught a line drive off the bat of Young Harris center fielder Natalie Corbin's bat in the fourth inning of game one.  Playing third, Patterson got her glove on a hot smash above her head knocking the ball high into the air and then she drove to complete the catch as the ball descended behind her.

 
 
#9 Young Harris 8, Francis Marion 2 (Apr 25, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Young Harris College 330 000 2 -  8 10  1      (28-8, 15-2 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 002 0 -  2  5  1      (10-19, 6-11 PBC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Sara King; Sam Davis(6) and Jill Torres.
Francis Marion Univ. - Rachel Davis; Janecia Hemingway(1); Taylor Florea(5) and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Sara King(7-2)  Loss-Rachel Davis(5-6)  T-2:32  A-72
HR YHC - Jill Torres (10); Haylie Shope (10); Morgan Curley (3).
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 71, Wind N 12
 
#9 Young Harris 8, Francis Marion 0 (Apr 25, 2021 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Young Harris College 100 510 1 -  8 13  1      (29-8, 16-2 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 000 0 -  0  3  1      (10-20, 6-12 PBC)
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Pitchers: Young Harris College - Jill Dixon and Jill Torres. Francis Marion Univ. -
Taylor Florea; Rachel Davis(7) and Sarah Harkins.
Win-Jill Dixon(10-1)  Loss-Taylor Florea(4-8)  T-2:21  A-0
Weather: Sunny, 75, Winds NNW 7 mph
Florea faced 1 batter in the 7th.