FLORENCE, SC – Senior outfielder Danielle Karacson registered three hits and drove in four runs to power Francis Marion University to a 12-4 win over 17th-ranked Kutztown University, Saturday (Feb. 18) on the first day of the Patriot Invitational Softball Tournament.  Later in the day, FMU fell to ninth-ranked Adelphi University 2-1 in eight innings.
 
The tournament will conclude on Sunday with three contests.  The Patriots (8-2) will play Adelphi (2-0) at 11 a.m. and Kutztown (2-3) at 3 p.m.  Adelphi and Kutztown will meet at 1 p.m.
 
FMU freshman right-hander Jenna Walling (5-0) remained unbeaten at the collegiate level with a complete-game effort against Kutztown.  She allowed only three earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
 
Francis Marion plated six runs in the first inning chasing Golden Bear starter Natalee Harvey (0-1).  Karacson drilled a two-run double, junior third baseman Makayla Cuthbertson laced a two-run single, and both senior first baseman Savana Rosson and freshman outfielder Anderson Thrower rapped out RBI-singles.
 
Karacson added a second two-run double in the third frame and junior catcher Lauren Smallwood drilled a two-run homer in the fourth.  Karacson set a new Patriot career record with her 49 doubles, breaking the old mark of 47 previously held by Taylor Johnson, Shannan Tyson, Janine Allen, and Laurie Niego.
 
Senior second baseman Megan Matsil ended the game by the 8-run with a run-scoring hit to right in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Smallwood joined Karacson with three hits, while Cuthbertson, Matsil, and sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai had two hits.
 
In the second contest, an RBI-single by first baseman Faith Camilleri in the top of the eighth provided the winning run.  In the bottom of the frame, the Patriots had the tying run on third with only one out, but were unable to extend the game.
 
FMU had taken a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a solo homer by Karacson.  A two-out fielding error allowed a Panther run to come home and knot the score 1-1 in the sixth.
 
FMU senior righty Rachel Davis (2-2) allowed only six hits and no earned runs, while fanning seven.  Adelphi reliever Tierney Fitzgerald (1-0) earned the win.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 12, Kutztown University 4 (Feb 18, 2023 at Florence, SC)
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Kutztown University. 030 10 -  4  4  0      (2-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 603 21 - 12 16  1      (8-1)
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Pitchers: Kutztown University - Natalee Harvey; Amanda Slabicki(1); Haley Gravish(4) and Sarah Harvat. Francis Marion Univ. - Jenna Walling and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Jenna Walling (5-0)  Loss-Natalee Harvey (0-1)  T-2:00  A-85
HR KUTZ-S - Sarah Harvey; Sarah Harvat.
HR FMU_SB - Lauren Smallwood (2).
Weather: Clear, 50 degrees
N. Harvey faced 4 batters in the 1st.
 
#9 Adelphi University 2, Francis Marion Univ. 1 (Feb 18, 2023 at Florence, SC)
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Adelphi University…. 000 001 01 -  2  6  1      (2-0)
Francis Marion Univ. 001 000 00 -  1  7  1      (8-2)
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Pitchers: Adelphi University - Claire Fon; Tierney Fitzgerald(3) and Angela Lignelli.
Francis Marion Univ. - Rachel Davis and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Tierney Fitzgerald (1-0)  Loss-Rachel Davis (2-2)  T-2:20  A-65
HR FMU_SB - Danielle Karacson.
Weather: Clear, 45 degrees
Fon faced 1 batter in the 3rd.