FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA – Junior right fielder Katie Smith drilled a tie-breaking two-run double as Francis Marion University captured game one 6-3, but a pair of grand slams by Emmanuel College resulted in a 10-5 Lions' victory in game two denying the Patriots a chance to take over first place, Sunday afternoon (Apr. 16) in Conference Carolinas softball play.
 
Francis Marion, which had its nine-game winning streak snapped in the second contest, moves to 34-10 overall and 14-6 in conference, one game behind the first-place Lions (28-16, 15-5).  FMU will play a conference twinbill at UNC Pembroke on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the final Battle of I-95 contest of the 2022-23 school year.
 
In Sunday's opening contest, FMU freshman right-hander Jenna Walling improved to 18-3 by tossing a five-hitter.  She retired the final 12 Lions in order.
 
Emmanuel took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by designated player Jaryn Gibson.  FMU responded immediately with a solo home run by graduate student catcher Reagan Glanz in the second.
 
The Patriots took a 3-1 lead in the third after senior designated player Savana Rosson belted a two-out, two-run homer to right field.  However, Gibson retied the game at 3-3 with a two-run double in the bottom of the frame.
 
Smith's two-out, two-run double to right field in the fifth put FMU ahead to stay.  Senior second baseman Megan Matsil added an insurance run in the seventh with a solo shot over the right field wall.
 
Freshman third baseman Madalyn White led Francis Marion at the plate with three hits, while senior first baseman Taylor Watford and sophomore center fielder Avery Bellai registered two hits each.
 
Maddie Edwards (16-3) went the distance for Emmanuel and absorbed the loss.  She came into the twinbill having thrown a conference-leading five shutouts.
 
In the second game, junior shortstop Makayla Cuthbertson led off with a walk and eventually scored on a two-out double by Matsil.  Run-scoring singles by Watford and Matsil in the third increased the advantage to 3-0.
 
Gibson erased that advantage with one swing in the bottom of the third, a grand slam over the left centerfield wall.  The Patriots rallied in their next half inning as Bellai and White both produced run-scoring doubles as FMU regained the lead at 5-4.
 
A solo homer by Gibson leading off the fifth brought the Lions even at 5-5.  Emmanuel then broke that tie with five runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a grand slam by catcher Kinsley Goolsby.
 
Matsil homered in the top of the seventh to account for the final margin.  The Indian Trail, N.C., native finished game-two 4-for-4 with a runs scored, a double, a homer, and three RBIs.
 
Smith and Bellai had two hits apiece in the second contest.  Patriot senior righty Rachel Davis (13-7) was the losing pitcher as she came on in relief of starter Jordan Rivera.
 
The Patriots entered the doubleheader ranked among the top three nationally in Division II for team batting average (.377), scoring (8.05 runs per game), total hits, total runs, and on-base percentage.
 
 
Francis Marion 6, Emmanuel 3 (Apr 16, 2023 at Franklin Springs, GA) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 012 020 1 -  6 11  0      (34-9, 14-5 CC)
Emmanuel............ 102 000 0 -  3  5  0      (27-16, 14-5 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jenna Walling and Reagan Glanz. Emmanuel - M. Edwards and K. Goolsby.
Win-Jenna Walling (18-3)  Loss-Maddie Edwards (16-3)  T-2:01  A-172
HR FMU_SB - Megan Matsil; Savana Rosson; Reagan Glanz.
Weather: Overcast, 70
 
Emmanuel 10, Francis Marion 6 (Apr 16, 2023 at Franklin Springs, GA) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 102 200 1 -  6 11  0      (34-10, 14-6 CC)
Emmanuel............ 004 015 X - 10 11  0      (28-16, 15-5 CC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Jordan Rivera; Rachel Davis(3); Jenna Walling(6) and Reagan Glanz.
Emmanuel - M. Kelley; K. Pickens(5) and K. Goolsby.
Win-Kaitlyn Pickens (6-6)  Loss-Rachel Davis (13-7)  T-2:45  A-169
HR FMU_SB - Megan Matsil.
HR EC - J. Gibson 2; K. Goolsby.
Weather: Overcast, 67