BANNER ELK, NC – Francis Marion University lost both ends of a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader to Lees-McRae College on Saturday (Mar. 25), falling 9-1 in the opener and 16-12 in the second contest.
 
Francis Marion (25-9, 5-5) will return home to host Belmont Abbey College on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for Faculty Appreciation Day.
 
In the game-two slugfest that featured a combined seven home runs, the Patriots totaled 16 hits.  Senior first baseman Taylor Watford led the way with three hits and a run batted in, while both senior left fielder Danielle Karacson and graduate student catcher Reagan Glanz had two hits, including a home run.  Senior second baseman Megan Matsil and junior right fielder Katie Smith also had two hits apiece.
 
Junior shortstop Makayla Cuthbertson walked to lead off the game, and one batter later, Karacson rocketed a two-run homer to left field giving FMU an early 2-0 advantage.  Lees-McRae answered with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the first.
 
The Patriots tied the score at 5-5 with a three-run second frame that was highlighted by Glanz's two-run homer. Again, the Bobcats responded immediately with a single tally in their half of the inning to assume a 6-5 lead.
 
Francis Marion took the lead with two runs in the third as sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai and Cuthbertson ripped back-to-back RBI-doubles.  However, Lees-McRae tallied four runs in the last of third to take the lead for good at 10-7.  LMC would add five more runs in the fourth.
 
Matsil drove home a run in the sixth inning with a sacrifice fly, and she and Watford collected run-scoring hits in the seventh to account for the final FMU offensive production.
 
Freshman right-handed pitcher Jenna Walling (13-3) was the losing pitcher.
 
In game one, FMU manufactured a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead.  Cuthbertson led off with an infield single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and then sole home.
 
However, the Bobcats answered back in the bottom of the first as right fielder Emma Jackson cranked a two-out grand slam home run.  Lees-McRae added five more in the bottom of the second and that would prove to be the final score, 9-1.
 
Cuthbertson and Matsil led FMU with two hits apiece.  Senior right-hander Rachel Davis (11-6) was tagged with the loss.
 
Jada Wilson (7-5) was the winning pitcher in both contests.  She started game one and came on in relief during game two.
 
 
Lees-McRae 9, Francis Marion 1 (3/25/2023 at Banner Elk, NC) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 100 00 -  1  7  1      (25-8, 5-4 CC)
Lees-McRae.......... 450 0X -  9  7  0      (15-10, 4-1 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Rachel Davis; Jordan Rivera(2) and Reagan Glanz. Lees-McRae -
Jada Wilson and Jordyn Scott.
Win-Jada Wilson (6-5)  Loss-Rachel Davis (11-6)  T-1:35  A-183
HR LMC - Emma Jackson; Lauren Ritchie.
Weather: 62 degrees, sunny
 
Lees-McRae 16, Francis Marion 12 (3/25/2023 at Banner Elk, NC) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 232 012 2 - 12 16  2      (25-9, 5-5 CC)
Lees-McRae.......... 514 501 X - 16 16  0      (16-10, 5-1 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jenna Walling; Rachel Davis(4) and Reagan Glanz. Lees-McRae -
Megan Powell; Jada Wilson(2) and Abby West; Jordyn Scott.
Win-Jada Wilson(7-5)  Loss-Jenna Walling(13-3)  T-2:40  A-127
HR FMU_SB - Danielle Karacson; Reagan Glanz.
HR LMC - Julie Gast; Hannah Foster; Emma Jackson; Lauren Ritchie; Jordyn Scott.