AIKEN, SC – A trio of transfers playing their first games as a Patriot – junior third baseman
Makayla Cuthbertson, senior designated hitter
Taylor Watford, and sophomore center fielder
Avery Bellai – combined to lead Francis Marion University to a season-opening doubleheader sweep of USC Aiken, 15-1 and 9-0, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4) in college softball action.
Francis Marion will return to Florence to play its home opener on Sunday (Feb. 5) against Augusta University at 3 p.m. PLEASE note the doubleheader was originally set for 1 p.m., but was pushed back two hours because of predicted rain.
In the opener, Bellai hit a pair of three-run homers to power FMU to the run-rule victory. Senior right-hander
Rachel Davis (1-0) tossed a complete game, allowing only five hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Junior third baseman
Makayla Cuthbertson, senior left field
Danielle Karacson, junior catcher
Lauren Smallwood, and Bellai all finished game one with two hits.
The Patriots scratched the scoreboard in their first at bat of the season. Cuthbertson led off with a bunt single, moved to second on a ground out, and scored on an RBI-single up the middle by Karacson.
FMU broke the game open by batting around in the fourth frame and scoring six times. Smallwood drilled a two-run single and senior second baseman
Megan Matsil followed with an RBI-single, before Bellai later stroked a three-run homer to center field.
The Patriots scored eight times in the fifth, highlighted by Bellai's second three-run shot.
Davis' only mistake was allowing a solo homer to senior outfielder Holly Daum with one-out in the fourth.
In the second contest, five Patriots recorded multiple hits: Cuthbertson, Watford, Matsil, senior first baseman
Savana Rosson, and freshman shortstop
Madalyn White. Taylor was 4-for-4 and Rosson had three hits.
In her collegiate debut, freshman right-hander
Jenna Walling tossed six scoreless frames with six strikeouts, while allowing only four hits. Freshman righty
Jordan Rivera threw a scoreless seventh inning.
FMU grabbed a 3-0 lead in the second when Matsil laced an RBI double and later two runs scored on a throwing error. The margin was doubled to 7-0 in the third after Rosson hit an RBI-single and Watford smacked a two-run homer to left field. Watford, a transfer from UAB, is a native of Lamar and a product of Hartsville High School.
Cuthbertson doubled in the fourth and later scored on a run-scoring ground out by Karacson to up the margin to 7-0. Watford's second two-run homer accounted for the final tallies in the seventh.
GAME 1
Francis Marion 15, USC Aiken 1 (2/4/2023 at Aiken, S.C.)
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Francis Marion.... 100 68 - 15 10 1 (1-0)
USC Aiken........... 000 10 - 1 5 6 (0-1)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Rachel Davis and Smallwood. USC Aiken - L. Phillips; M. Perez(5) and .
Win-
Rachel Davis (1-0) Loss-Lakyn Phillips (0-1) T-2:06 A-187
HR FMU_SB -
Avery Bellai 2.
HR USCA - Holly Daum.
Weather: Chilly
GAME 2
Francis Marion 9, USC Aiken 0 (2/4/2023 at Aiken, S.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 033 100 2 - 9 14 0 (2-0)
USC Aiken............ 000 000 0 - 0 4 3 (0-2)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Jenna Walling;
Jordan Rivera(7) and Smallwood. USC Aiken - P. Baker;
K. Adams (7) and .
Win-
Jenna Walling (0-1) Loss-P. Baker (1-0) T-2:18
HR FMU_SB -
Taylor Watford 2.
Weather: Cloudy
