FLORENCE, SC – Senior third baseman
Janecia Hemingway hit a two-out three-run homer to erase a two-run deficit as Francis Marion University rallied to defeat Emmanuel College (Ga.) 3-2 in the first game of Saturday afternoon's (April 9) Conference Carolina softball doubleheader. The Lions earned a split of the twinbill with a 4-0 victory in game two.
Francis Marion (23-14, 9-5) will play a conference doubleheader at Barton College on Tuesday at 3 p.m., before returning home to entertain UNC Pembroke on Thursday at 4 p.m. FMU is currently tied for fourth in the conference standings.
Hemingway's long ball over the right-center field fence helped FMU overcome the strong pitching of Emmanuel sophomore right-hander Kaitlyn Pickens (6-3), who had blanked the Patriots on three hits over the first five innings. In the sixth, junior second baseman
Megan Matsil led off with a single and senior left fielder
Danielle Karacson and junior first baseman
Savana Rosson followed with singles to load the bases with no outs.
After sophomore catcher
Lauren Smallwood lined into a double play, Hemingway launched her second home run in as many days. The Lions had built their 2-0 lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
FMU junior righty
Casey Kurent (9-3) earned the win in relief of starter
Rachel Davis. Kurent recorded the final six outs, allowing only a single.
Matsil and Rosson both finished with two hits. Senior shortstop
Ashtyn Patterson singled on the third pitch of the first inning to extend her hitting streak to 19 games and her streak of safely reaching base to 36 games – both of which were ended in the second game.
In game two, Emmanuel sophomore right-hander Maddie Edwards (11-7) pitched a three-hitter and allowed only five Patriot base runners. First baseman Mackensie Hogan hit a three-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third to account for Lions' four runs.
Kurent pitched a complete game in the second contest and surrendered only five hits, but was saddled with the loss. She walked three and struck out three.
Freshman right fielder
Laurin Nodine, Matsil, and Karacson accounted for the three FMU hits.
The Patriots put runners on first and second with one out in the fourth but failed to score. Nodine doubled with one out in the fifth and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but was stranded there.
Francis Marion Univ. 3, Emmanuel College GA 2 (Apr 09, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Emmanuel College GA. 000 011 0 - 2 9 0 (27-17, 8-7 CC)
Francis Marion Univ….. 000 003 X - 3 7 0 (23-13, 9-4 CC)
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Pitchers: Emmanuel College GA - Kaitlyn Pickens and Chloe Nadler. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rachel Davis;
Casey Kurent(6) and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Casey Kurent(9-2) Loss-Kaitlyn Pickens(6-3) T-1:49 A-111
HR FMU_SB -
Janecia Hemingway (2).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy,57,Wind E@13mph
Davis faced 3 batters in the 6th.
Emmanuel College GA 4, Francis Marion Univ. 0 (Apr 09, 2022 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Emmanuel College GA. 301 000 0 - 4 5 1 (28-17, 9-7 CC)
Francis Marion Univ….. 000 000 0 - 0 3 0 (23-14, 9-5 CC)
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Pitchers: Emmanuel College GA - Maddie Edwards and Chloe Nadler. Francis Marion Univ. -
Casey Kurent and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Maddie Edwards(11-7) Loss-
Casey Kurent(9-3) T-1:46 A-0
HR EMMANUEL - Mackensie Hogan 2 (4).
Weather: Overcast,55,Winds E @ 16 mph
GAME 2 NOTES
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 29 Emmanuel (GA) hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out three.
» Nodine led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a double.
» Emmanuel (GA) was led offensively by junior Mackensie Hogan, who went 2-for-2 with two home runs and four RBI.
» Sophomore Maddie led the Lions pitching staff, throwing seven scoreless innings.
