HICKORY, NC – In a match-up of two of the best hitting teams in NCAA Division II, Francis Marion University lost a pair of decisions, 10-2 and 6-4, to home-standing Lenoir-Rhyne University, Wednesday (Mar. 8) in non-conference softball action.
 
Francis Marion (18-4), which sees its 10-game winning streak snapped, will host West Chester University for a doubleheader on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
 
Entering the twinbill, FMU was ranked seventh nationally in both scoring and on-base percentage and eighth in team batting average (.375), while the Bears were fourth in hitting (.391), sixth in slugging percentage, and ninth in on-base percentage.
 
In game one, a pair of three-run homers by LRU provided to be the difference as Patriot freshman right-hander Jenna Walling (10-1) suffered her first collegiate loss.  The Bears (19-3) entered the game listed among the other teams receiving votes in this week's NFCA Top 25 national poll.
 
The Patriots took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the third when senior left fielder Danielle Karacson doubled home freshman shortstop Madalyn White.  The two-base hit improved upon Karacson's school record for career doubles to 53.
 
The Bears responded immediately in the bottom of the frame with a three-run homer by first base Lora Beth Wood.  Lenoir-Rhyne upped the margin to 5-1 with two runs in the fourth inning.
 
Junior third baseman Makayla Cuthbertson opened the Francis Marion fifth inning with a bunt single, stole second, and went to third on a fly out.  Senior designated hitter Savana Rosson plated Cuthbertson with an RBI-single up the middle to trim the deficit to 5-2.
 
Again LRU answered right back, this time with a three-run homer by right fielder Anna Blume.  The Bears added another run in the frame and one in the sixth to end the contest.
 
The Patriots were held to five hits by LRU starter Lauren Rakes (7-1).
 
In game two, a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth proved costly as FMU fell 6-4.
 
LRU took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Julia Mardigian in the bottom of the first, and upped the margin to 4-0 after a three-run home run by center fielder Kaylan Brown in the second.
 
The Patriots were able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when a Savana Rosson RBI-single plated Karacson. Later in the inning, junior catcher Lauren Smallwood drove in two runs with a double down the left field line turning the contest into a one-score game at 4-3.  However, the Patriots would strand runners on second and third.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Lenoir-Rhyne pushed across a pair of unearned runs to extend the margin to 6-3.  Francis Marion was able to score once in its final at bat when White doubled and came home on an RBI-single by Karacson, but Rakes came on to retire the next three Patriot batters to earn a save in relief of senior Morgan Beeler (9-2).
 
FMU senior righty Rachel Davis (7-3) was saddled with the loss despite allowing only four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.
 
Both Karacson and Rosson had two hits in the second contest, including Karacson's 54th career two-bagger.
 
 
Lenoir-Rhyne 10, Francis Marion 2 (Mar 08, 2023 at Hickory, N.C.) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 001 010  -  2  5  2      (18-3)
Lenoir-Rhyne........ 003 241  - 10 12  1      (18-3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jenna Walling; Jordan Rivera(5) and Lauren Smallwood; Reagan Glanz.
Lenoir-Rhyne - Lauren Rakes and L. Jackson.
Win-Lauren Rakes (7-1)  Loss-Jenna Walling (10-1)  T-1:57  A-325
HR LR – Lora Beth Wood (4); Anna Blume (2).
Weather: 59 Cloudy  L to R at 3 MPH
Rivera faced 4 batters in the 6th.
 
 
Lenoir-Rhyne 6, Francis Marion 4 (Mar 08, 2023 at Hickory, N.C.) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Francis Marion...... 000 003 1 -  4  8  2      (18-4)
Lenoir-Rhyne........ 130 002 X -  6  8  4      (19-3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Francis Marion - Rachel Davis and Lauren Smallwood; Reagan Glanz. Lenoir-Rhyne -
Morgan Beeler; Lauren Rakes(7) and G. Hildebran.
Win-Morgan Beeler (9-2)  Save-Lauren Rakes (2)  Loss-Rachel Davis (7-3)  T-2:02  A-165
HR LR - Kaylan Brown (1).
Weather: 54 Clear Wind is Calm
Morgan Beeler faced 1 batter in the 7th.