DUNCAN, SC – Fifth-seeded Francis Marion University overcame an early 2-0 deficit and scored single runs in each of the final four innings to capture a thrilling 4-3 nine-inning victory over sixth-seeded Emmanuel College (Ga.) on Saturday evening (April 30) in an elimination game of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.
With the win, Francis Marion (33-19) advances to the championship contest on Sunday at 11 a.m. against top-seeded King University. FMU will have to defeat the Tornado twice on Sunday to win the title, as King is unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament. Play is being held at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.
Earlier in the day, the Patriots won another elimination game as they beat fourth-seeded Belmont Abbey College 4-3.
In the extra-inning victory over Emmanuel, FMU scored the winning run when a potential double play relay to first base was high allowing freshman
Jayla King to scamper home from third with the winning run. She was placed on second to start the frame as part of the international tiebreaker rule. After a fly out, senior
Janecia Hemingway walked. Sophomore catcher
Lauren Smallwood then drilled a liner up the middle that was smother by a diving shortstop who flipped to second for the force out, but the relay throw was errant.
Senior right-hander
Rachel Davis (15-7) picked up the victory out of the bullpen. She relieved Hemingway in the third inning and pitched the final seven frames, allowing only one unearned run on three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Four Patriots recorded two hits, including senior All-Conference shortstop
Ashtyn Patterson and junior second baseman
Megan Matsil, who also both had a run batted in. Sophomore designated player
Grace Trautman and sophomore right fielder
Katie Smith also had two hits apiece.
Trailing 2-0 in the sixth inning, FMU cut the margin in half when Patterson scored Smith with a two-out run-scoring single. The Patriots knotted the game at 2-2 in the seventh when King scored on a sacrifice fly by Hemingway.
Using the tiebreaker rule, both teams scored in the eighth inning. After Emmanuel scored in the top half of the frame, Francis Marion answered with an RBI-single by Matsil.
Davis held the Lions scoreless in the ninth, utilizing a key strikeout.
Emmanuel starter Kaitlyn Pickens (9-4) was the losing pitcher as she threw 167 pitches in a complete-game effort.
Francis Marion 4, Emmanuel College 3 (Apr 30, 2022 at Duncan, SC)
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Emmanuel College.... 002 000 010 - 3 6 2 (37-22)
Francis Marion.......... 000 001 111 - 4 10 0 (33-19)
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Pitchers: Emmanuel College - Kaitlyn Pickens and Chloe Nadler. Francis Marion -
Janecia Hemingway;
Rachel Davis(3) and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Rachel Davis(15-7) Loss-Kaitlyn Pickens(9-4) T-2:46 A-184
Weather: 79, sunny, wind out to CF
Hemingway faced 3 batters in the 3rd.
GAME NOTES
» Davis struck out six Lions hitters.
» Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed one run across.
» Four Patriots had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Patriots out-hit the Lions at a 10-6 clip.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 34 Emmanuel (GA) hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out six.
» The Patriots drew five walks from Emmanuel (GA) pitching.
»
Megan Matsil led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
» Emmanuel (GA) was led offensively by senior Ally Harris, who went 2-for-4 with two doubles.
» Sophomore Kaitlyn led the Lions pitching staff, throwing 8.2 innings of four-run ball.
