FLORENCE, SC – Junior right fielder Katie Smith clouted a two-run home run to back the strong pitching of freshman right-hander Jenna Walling as Francis Marion University claimed a 5-1 win over West Liberty University, Sunday (Feb. 26) in the opening game of the Swamp Fox Sizzler Softball Tournament.
 
Francis Marion improves to 11-2 and will face Bloomsburg University later on Sunday at 4 p.m.  The tournament will continue on Monday with games at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.
 
Walling remained unbeaten in collegiate career at 7-0 as she tossed 6.1 shutout frames.  She allowed only two hits, walked two, and struck out two.
 
Junior third baseman Makayla Cuthbertson and junior catcher Lauren Smallwood led FMU at the plate with two hits apiece.  Cuthbertson's were both for extra bases, a triple and a double, and she scored twice.
 
Cuthbertson tripled down the left field line to open the Patriot first inning and then scored on an RBI-ground out by freshman shortstop Madalyn White.
 
FMU manufactured a run in the second to double the margin to 2-0.  A hit batter, a passed ball, a fly out, and a sacrifice fly by sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai accounted for the run.
 
Smith's two-run shot over the left field wall upped the advantage to 4-0 in the third inning.  FMU's final run crossed in the fourth as Cuthbertson walked, stole second, went to third on a bunt single by White, and scored when White was caught in a run-down attempting to steal second.
 
West Liberty (1-8) tallied its lone run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh by outfielder Jairika Baylor.  Right-handed starter Ryleigh Morgan (0-1) took the loss for the Hilltoppers.
 
 
Francis Marion Univ. 5, West Liberty Univ. 1 (Feb 26, 2023 at Florence, SC)
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West Liberty Univ... 000 000 1 -  1  3  1      (1-8)
Francis Marion Univ. 112 100 X -  5  8  0      (11-2)
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Pitchers: West Liberty Univ. - Ryleigh Morgan; Brooke Perri(2); Madison Angus(5) and
Makayla Blair. Francis Marion Univ. - Jenna Walling; Jordan Rivera(7) and Lauren Smallwood;
Elisabeth Raby.
Win-Jenna Walling (7-0)  Loss-Ryleigh Morgan (0-1)  T-1:54  A-101
HR FMU_SB - Katie Smith (1).
Weather: Overcast,53,winds NW @ 4 mph