FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University bats rapped out four home runs, among eight extra-base hits, as the Patriots powered past Chowan University in Friday afternoon's (April 8) Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader, winning 13-2 and 8-0 with contests going only five innings.
 
Francis Marion is now 22-13 overall, has won five straight, and the Patriots take sole possession of fourth place in the conference standings at 8-4.
 
FMU will play host to Emmanuel College (Ga.) for a conference twinbill on Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
In Friday's opener, senior shortstop Ashtyn Patterson and junior second baseman Megan Matsil led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back solo home runs.
 
A run-scoring single by Patterson and a two-run double by Matsil helped fuel a four-run second inning that upped the margin to 6-0.
 
After Chowan scored twice in third on a two-run homer by first baseman Jesse Gentry, the Patriots exploded for seven runs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double by senior left fielder Danielle Karacson and a three-run homer over the left-center field wall by senior third baseman Janecia Hemingway.
 
Both Patterson and Matsil finished game one 3-for-4 and both crossed the plate three times, while Matsil drove in three and Patterson two.
 
Junior right-hander Casey Kurent (8-2) recorded her fourth complete game of the season as she held the Hawks to two runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
In the second contest, junior righty Rachel Davis (8-4) registered her second shutout of the year by limiting the Hawks (7-26, 2-12) to four hits, while issuing no walks and fanning two.
 
Sophomore catcher Lauren Smallwood and graduate student center fielder NaJah Gerrald both had two hits, while Patterson and Matsil had one hit and Matsil drove in two runs.
 
The Patriots scored in each of the first four innings.  Patterson led off the first with a double down the left field inning and would later score on a wild pitch.
 
A solo homer by Smallwood off the large scoreboard in left field and a two-run single by Matsil highlighted a four-run second.  The margin grew to 6-0 in the third when freshman designated player Emma Moberg scored on a sacrifice fly by Hemingway.
 
An RBI-grounder by Karacson and a run-scoring single off the right-center field wall by junior first baseman Savana Rosson accounted for the final runs in the fourth.
 
For her day's effort, Patterson extended her hitting streak to 18 games and has now reached base safely in all 35 contests this season. She was also hit by a pitch in the second contest to increase her national-leading season total to 18.
 
Chowan starters Megan Vincent (2-13) and Ina Womack (1-7) were tagged with the losses.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 13, Chowan University 2 (Apr 08, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Chowan University... 002 00 -  2  3  2      (7-25, 2-11 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 240 7X - 13 11  0      (21-13, 7-4 CC)
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Pitchers: Chowan University - Megan Vincent; Bailey Wilcox(3) and Hannah Eden.
Francis Marion Univ. - Casey Kurent and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Casey Kurent(8-2)  Loss-Megan Vincent(2-13)  T-1:28  A-85
HR CU - Jesse Gentry (3).
HR FMU_SB - Ashtyn Patterson (4); Megan Matsil (3); Janecia Hemingway (1).
Weather: Partly Cloudy,68,Winds NE@15m
 
GAME 1 NOTES
» Francis Marion got three-hit games from both Patterson and Matsil.
» Kurent struck out six Hawks hitters.
» The Patriots power output was led by Matsil, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Matsil and Hemingway drove in three runs each for the Patriots. » Every Francis Marion starter reached base safely in the win.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Francis Marion hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Patriots out-hit the Hawks at an 11-3 clip.
» Francis Marion went 6-for-9 (.667) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 20 Chowan hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and five fly balls while striking out six.
» The Patriots drew four walks from Chowan pitching.
» Matsil led the Patriots at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
» Chowan was led offensively by senior Jesse Gentry, who went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI.
» Senior Megan Vincent led the Hawks pitching staff, throwing two innings of six-run ball.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 8, Chowan University 0 (Apr 08, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Chowan University... 000 00 -  0  4  1      (7-26, 2-12 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 141 2X -  8  8  0      (22-13, 8-4 CC)
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Pitchers: Chowan University - Ina Womack; Keira Teserovitch(3) and Mya Horne.
Francis Marion Univ. - Rachel Davis and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Rachel Davis(8-4)  Loss-Ina Womack(1-7)  T-1:16  A-0
HR FMU_SB - Lauren Smallwood (3).
Weather: Partly Cloudy,66,Winds NE@15mp
 
GAME 2 NOTES
» Davis tossed a four-hit shutout for the Patriots.
» The Patriots power output was led by Smallwood, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Francis Marion's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed four runs across.
» Francis Marion grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Patriots out-hit the Hawks at an 8-4 clip.
» Francis Marion went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers limited Chowan to just 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 18 Chowan hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and five fly balls while striking out two.
» Smallwood led the Patriots at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
» Chowan was led offensively by junior Haleigh Reid, who went 2-for-2 with a double.
» Senior Keira Teserovitch led the Hawks pitching staff, throwing two innings of three-run ball.