FLORENCE, SC – A sacrifice fly and a two-run throwing error on the game's final play allowed Francis Marion University to score three runs and rally for an improbable 9-8 win over King University (Tenn.) on Saturday (March 19) and a sweep of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader.  A three-run homer by senior infielder Ashtyn Patterson helped erased a five-run deficit in the opener of the twinbill as FMU came-from-behind for a 7-5 victory.
 
Francis Marion ups its overall record to 17-12 and evens its conference mark at 3-3, while King drops to 18-10 and 2-2.  FMU will play its next three doubleheaders on the road beginning with a conference twinbill at North Greenville University on Friday at 2 p.m.
 
Senior right-hander Janecia Hemingway (6-7) earned the pitching win in both contest as she threw in relief of Patriot starters Rachel Davis and Casey Kurent.
 
In the wild second contest, Francis Marion trailed 8-3 entering the bottom of the seventh.  Following a hit batter, a walk, and four singles, the Patriots still trailed 8-6 with one out.  With the bases loaded, senior left fielder Danielle Karacson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored graduate student NaJah Gerrald with the seventh run.  On the play, as the throw came home, it was cut off by a King infielder who then threw wildly past the third baseman and both Patterson and sophomore right fielder Katie Smith scored with the tying and winning runs.
 
The Tornado built a 5-0 lead on a trio of home runs over the first three innings.  After being held without a base runner by King righty Marleigh Duncan (6-5) over the first three frames, FMU got on the scoreboard in the fourth when junior first baseman Savana Rosson drilled a three-run homer over the center field wall.  Rosson, who now has 11 long balls this season, also homered in game one of the doubleheader and is only the seventh different Patriot to reach double digits in home runs in the 44-year history of the FMU program.
 
A two-run homer by Tornado second baseman Peyton Day in the fifth and an insurance run in the top of the seventh created the 8-3 deficit that the Patriots faced going into their final at bat.
 
Patterson led FMU with a 2-for-3 performance that extended both her hitting streak to 12 games and her streak of safely reaching base to all 29 contests in 2022.
 
Hemingway pitched the final five innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on six hits, while walking two and striking out three.
 
In game one, the Conway native went 3.2 shutout innings, giving up only one hit, with one walk and three punchouts and allowed FMU to again rally.
 
Trailing 5-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots scored six times on four hits.  Freshman designated player Emma Moberg brought in the first run with an RBI-double to the right-center field gap.  Two batters later, Hemingway helped her own cause with a two-run single through the left side.  Two batters later, Patterson smacked her three-run homer to straight-away center field to give FMU its first lead at 6-5.
 
Rosson accounted for the final tally with a solo home run in the fifth.
 
Seven different Patriots had a hit in the opener, while junior infielder Megan Matsil reached base three times, once by a walk and twice by being hit.
 
King starter Nikole Counts (8-4) took the loss in game one.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 7, King University TN 5 (Mar 19, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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King University TN.. 020 300 0 -  5  8  2      (18-9, 2-1 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 610 X -  7  7  1      (16-12, 2-3 CC)
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Pitchers: King University TN - Nikole Counts; Marleigh Duncan(5) and Peyton Day.
Francis Marion Univ. - Rachel Davis; Janecia Hemingway(4) and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Janecia Hemingway(5-7)  Loss-Nikole Counts(8-4)  T-1:54  A-125
HR FMU_SB - Ashtyn Patterson (1); Savana Rosson (10).
Weather: Cloudy,76,Winds NE @ 16 mph

GAME 1 NOTES
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Francis Marion went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 31 King (TN) hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out three.
» Patterson led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
» King (TN) was led offensively by sophomore Lilly Million, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
» Duncan led the Tornado pitching staff, throwing two innings of one-run ball.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 9, King University TN 8 (Mar 19, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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King University TN.. 203 020 1 -  8 10  1      (18-10, 2-2 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 300 6 -  9  6  0      (17-12, 3-3 CC)
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Pitchers: King University TN - Marleigh Duncan; Carly Turner(7) and Rikkelle Miller.
Francis Marion Univ. - Casey Kurent; Janecia Hemingway(3) and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Janecia Hemingway(6-7)  Loss-Marleigh Duncan(6-5)  T-2:29  A-0
HR KING - Samantha Helms (4); Carly Turner (7); Rikkelle Miller (7); Peyton Day (2).
HR FMU_SB - Savana Rosson (11).
Weather: Partly Cloudy,77,Winds NE@15mp
Kurent faced 3 batters in the 3rd.

GAME 2 NOTES
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed six runs across.
» Francis Marion went 5-for-6 (.833) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 35 King (TN) hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out six.
» Rosson led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
» King (TN) was led offensively by senior Rikkelle Miller, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.