FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-hander Janecia Hemingway came within a home run of hitting for the cycle and within two outs of the fifth perfect game in program history as Francis Marion University blanked Converse University 14-0 to complete a sweep of Wednesday evening's (April 20) Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader.  FMU won the opener 10-0 behind the one-hit pitching of junior righty Rachel Davis.
 
The Patriots improve to 27-16 overall and 13-7 in conference play, while moving into a tie for third place.  FMU, ranked ninth in the initial NCAA Southeast Region poll, will play its final two conference twinbills on the road at Belmont Abbey College on Saturday at 1 p.m. and at Erskine College on Monday at 1 p.m.
 
In the game-two victory, Hemingway (7-7) retired the first 13 batters she faced before allowing a line-drive single to right center field.  She then retired the next two batters to complete her one-hitter.  The Conway native fanned four batters.
 
It has been eight seasons since a Patriot pitcher threw a perfect game, and three years since the last FMU no-hitter.
 
Hemingway and senior third baseman Ashtyn Patterson led FMU with three hits and two RBIs apiece.  Sophomore right fielder Katie Smith, junior shortstop Megan Matsil, and sophomore catcher Lauren Smallwood each had two hits, with Smith extended her hitting streak to 11 games.
 
The Patriots scored eight runs in the first and six in the third.  Matsil clubbed her fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot just inside the left field foul pole, as part of the third-inning outburst.
 
In winning the first game, Davis (11-5) gave up only a fourth-inning single, while striking out 10 in the five-inning contest.
 
The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the second frame on a two-out run-scoring double down the left field line by graduate student center fielder NaJah Gerrald.  That advantage grew to 3-0 in the third when left fielder Daneille Karacson doubled home a run and later scored on an RBI-single to left by junior first baseman Savana Rosson.
 
The Patriots sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth and scored seven times.  Smallwood had a pair of hits in the frame, including a run-scoring single.
 
Smith, Rosson, Hemingway, and Smallwood all recorded two hits in the opener.
 
Prior to the game, FMU honored its four seniors playing their final home contests: Gerrald, Hemingway, Patterson, and injured catcher Sarah Harkins.

 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 10, Converse University 0 (Apr 20, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Converse University. 000 00 -  0  1  6      (1-44, 0-21 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 012 7X - 10 13  0      (26-16, 12-7 CC)
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Pitchers: Converse University - Serrah Ballard; Maggie Griffis(4) and Ryan Finazzo.
Francis Marion Univ. - Rachel Davis and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Rachel Davis (11-5)  Loss-Serrah Ballard (0-14)  T-1:13  A-111
Weather: Sunny,68,Winds west @ 4 mph
 
GAME 1 NOTES
» Davis tossed a one-hit shutout for the Patriots.
» Davis struck out 10 Valkyries hitters.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» The Patriots had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Valkyries 1-0 in the bottom of the second.
» Four Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Patriots out-hit the Valkyries at a 13-1 clip.
» Francis Marion went 5-for-11 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 17 Converse hitters in the game, allowing zero ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 10.
» Smith led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Converse was led offensively by freshman Emily Ingle, who went 1-for-2.
 
Francis Marion Univ. 14, Converse University 0 (Apr 20, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Converse University. 000 00 -  0  1  3      (1-45, 0-22 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 806 0X - 14 14  0      (27-16, 13-7 CC)
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Pitchers: Converse University - Emily Ingle; Serrah Ballard(1); Belle Roper(3) and Ryan Finazzo
. Francis Marion Univ. - Janecia Hemingway and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Janecia Hemingway (7-7)  Loss-Emily Ingle (0-7)  T-1:24
HR FMU_SB - Megan Matsil (4).
Weather: Clear,69,Winds NW @ 5 mph
 
GAME 2 NOTES
» Hemingway tossed a one-hit shutout for the Patriots.
» Francis Marion got three-hit games from both Patterson and Hemingway.
» The Patriots power output was led by Hemingway, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed an 8-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Patriots out-hit the Valkyries at a 14-1 clip.
» The Patriots swiped five bases as a team.
» Francis Marion went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 16 Converse hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and three fly balls while striking out four.
» Matsil led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.
» Converse was led offensively by freshman Maggie Griffis, who went 1-for-2.
» Sophomore Belle Roper led the Valkyries pitching staff, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings.