FLORENCE, SC – Junior right fielder Katie Smith drilled a two-out, two-run single to center field in the fifth inning to erase a one-run deficit and help Francis Marion University to a 5-4 victory over 17th-ranked Kutztown University, Sunday evening (Feb. 19) in the final game of the Patriot Invitational Softball Tournament.
 
Francis Marion (10-2), which earlier in the day defeated ninth-ranked Adelphi University 2-1, will host the Swamp Sizzler Tournament next weekend, Feb. 25-26.  FMU will open the event by playing West Liberty University on Saturday at 11 a.m.
 
Senior second baseman Megan Matsil led the Patriots with three hits, her second three-hit game of the day, while junior third baseman Makayla Cuthbertson and sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai both rapped out two hits.
 
FMU senior right-hander Rachel Davis (3-2) earned the win with a complete-game effort.  She allowed only six hits, walked one, and fanned six.  She retired nine of the last 10 batters she faced.
 
Kutztown freshman righty Natalee Harvey (0-1) also went the distance and was tagged with the loss.
 
The Golden Bears took a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  A hit batter and a walk preceded a three-run homer by senior designated hitter Sarah Harvey.
 
Francis Marion answered back immediately with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame.  Freshman shortstop Madalyn White doubled home Cuthbertson, who had led off with a single.  Two batters late, Matsil plated White with an RBI-single up the middle.
 
Kutztown (2-5) upped the margin to 4-2 with a single run in the third.  
 
In the decisive fifth frame, senior left fielder Danielle Karacson doubled with one out, her 50th career two-base hit extending her school career record.  Matsil followed with an infield single and senior first baseman Taylor Watford walked to load the bases.  Senior designated hitter Savana Rosson brought home one run with a fielder's choice grounder to short, and after pinch hitter Grace Trautman was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Smith singled on a 2-1 pitch to drive home two runs and put FMU up 5-4.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 5, #17 Kutztown University 4 (Feb 19, 2023 at Florence, SC)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kutztown University. 301 000 0 -  4  6  1      (2-5)
Francis Marion Univ. 200 030 X -  5 11  2      (10-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Kutztown University - Natalee Harvey and Sarah Harvat. Francis Marion Univ. -
Rachel Davis and Reagan Glanz.
Win-Rachel Davis (3-2)  Loss-Natalee Harvey (0-1)  T-1:41  A-77
HR KUTZ-S - Sarah Harvey.
Weather: Mostly Cloudy,63,Winds N@6 mph