DUNCAN, SC – A lead-off homer in the bottom of the fourth inning proved the decisive swing of the game as top-seeded King University claimed a 1-0 win over fifth-seeded Francis Marion University, Sunday morning (May 1) in the championship game of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.
 
Francis Marion, now 33-20, must await the Monday, May 9, announcement of the NCAA Division II National Tournament Field to see it receives an at-large bid.  The Patriots were ranked 10th in the most recent Southeast Region poll.
 
The game featured only five hits as FMU junior right-hander Rachel Davis (15-8) and King junior righty Nikole Counts (19-7) dueled for seven innings.
 
Davis came out on the short end of the decision despite allowing only three hits, fanning three, and walking no one.  Davis recorded all four of FMU's wins in the tournament.
 
The Mechanicsville, Va., native allowed a pair of first-inning singles, but after that retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced.  The one exception was a solo home run over the left-center field fence by Rikkelle Miller leading off the fourth inning.
 
Francis Marion had a base runner in every inning but the seventh. However, the Patriots went a total of 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
 
In the second inning, Patriot sophomore designated player Grace Trautman led off with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Senior third baseman Janecia Hemingway followed with a walk and both runners were moved up to second and third on a sacrifice bunt.  However, Counts retired the next two batters on a ground out and a line out to end the threat.
 
With one out in the fifth, FMU senior shortstop Ashtyn Patterson reached base and advanced to second on an infield throwing error, but she was stranded there.
 
n the sixth inning, Trautman drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a single by Hemingway.  A force out at second left runners on the corners, but Counts induced a ground out to end the inning.
 
Davis, Trautman, and graduate student center fielder NaJah Gerrald were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
 
The four-day Conference Carolinas Tournament was played at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.  King (41-15) earns the league's automatic bid to the national tournament.
 
 
King University 1, Francis Marion 0 (May 01, 2022 at Duncan, SC)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 0 -  0  2  0      (33-20)
King University..... 000 100 X -  1  3  2      (41-15)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Rachel Davis and Lauren Smallwood. King University - Nikole Counts
and Peyton Day.
Win-Nikole Counts(19-7)  Loss-Rachel Davis(15-8)  T-1:19  A-207
HR KING - Rikkelle Miller (15).
Weather: 69, overcast, breeze to LF
 
GAME NOTES
» Francis Marion pitchers faced 21 King (TN) hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out three.
» Trautman led the Patriots at the plate, going 1-for-2.
» King (TN) was led offensively by senior Rikkelle Miller, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Counts led the Tornados pitching staff, throwing seven shutout innings.