MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Francis Marion University erased a five-run deficit to win game one 9-8, but could not rally in game two as the Patriots suffered their first loss a 3-1 decision to Georgia College, Wednesday evening (Feb. 15) in a non-conference softball doubleheader.
 
Francis Marion (6-1) will celebrate Homecoming 2023 by hosting the Patriot Invitational Tournament on Saturday.  FMU will face 17th-ranked Kutztown University at 1 p.m. and 9th-ranked Adelphi University at 3 p.m.
 
In the opener, four Patriots pounded out two hits: junior third baseman Makayla Cuthbertson, senior first baseman Savana Rosson, senior second baseman Megan Matsil, and freshman shortstop Madalyn White. 
 
FMU freshman right-hander Jenna Walling remained unbeaten at 4-0 with a complete-game effort in the pitching circle.  She fanned four and walked only one.
 
The Patriots took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first thanks to a Bobcat throwing error.  Georgia College (5-3) then scored six unanswered runs over the next four frames to go ahead 6-1.
 
FMU plated seven runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead.  Rosson blasted a two-run homer, Cuthbertson rapped out a two-run single, senior left fielder Danielle Karacson laced a run-scoring triple, and junior right fielder Katie Smith and sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai both had RBI groundouts.
 
The Bobcats quickly knotted the contest with two runs in the bottom of the frame.  However, Francis Marion pushed across what proved to be the winning tally in the sixth when senior designated hitter Taylor Watford led off with a single to left field, moved to third on consecutive sacrifice bunts, and scampered home on an RBI-single to left by White.
 
Walling stranded the potential tying run on third in the bottom of the seventh.
 
In Wednesday's second contest, Bobcat hurler Shelby Jones (3-2) mostly silenced the Patriots bats on only four hits with four strikeouts.
 
Two errors by FMU led to the first Georgia College run in the second.  The Bobcats upped the advantage to 3-0 with a pair of tallies in the last of the sixth.
 
Francis Marion broke up the shutout in the seventh when Watford led off with a double, and two batters later, pinch runner Mikaela Goss scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman pinch hitter Paige Strickland. 
 
Watford had two of the Patriots' four hits with a single and the double.  White and freshman outfielder Anderson Thrower had the other two base knocks.
 
Senior righty Rachel Davis (2-1) took the loss despite allowing only six hits and two earned runs.  She struck out three and walked two.
 
 
Francis Marion 9, Georgia College 8 (2/15/2023 at Milledgeville, Ga.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 100 071 0 -  9 10  3      (7-0)
Georgia College..... 301 220 0 -  8 15  5      (4-3)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jenna Walling and Lauren Smallwood, Reagan Glanz. Georgia College - J. Shellhors; M. Ledbetter(5);
S. Jones(5) and Zweifel.
Win-Jenna Walling (4-0)  Loss-Shelby Jones (2-2)  T-2:40  A-88
HR FMU_SB - Savana Rosson.
HR GCSU - K. Hobbs.
 
Georgia College 3, Francis Marion 1 (2/15/2023 at Milledgeville, Ga.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 1 -  1  4  2      (7-1)
Georgia College..... 010 002 X -  3  6  0      (5-3)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Rachel Davis and Reagan Glanz. Georgia College - S. Jones and D. Checo.
Win-Shelby Jones (3-2)  Loss-Rachel Davis (2-1)  T-2:00  A-88