WINGATE, NC – Wingate University senior right-hander Raechel Cutcher silenced the high-powered Francis Marion University offence on just one single as the second-seeded and 17th-ranked Bulldogs edged the Patriots 2-0, Thursday afternoon (May 11) in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Southeast Sub-Regional Softball Tournament.
Seventh-seeded Francis Marion falls to 41-12 and will face the Lenoir-Rhyne University/Carson-Newman University loser on Friday at 1 p.m. in an elimination game. If the Patriots are victorious in that game, they would play again at 3:30 p.m. on Friday.
FMU senior right-hander
Rachel Davis (18-9) was nearly as good as Cutcher, as she allowed only two runs on six hits. She threw 101 pitches, while seeing her personal six-game winning streak come to an end.
The Patriots offense, which is ranked first in the nation in scoring and team batting average and second in on-base percentage, was held without a base runner until junior shortstop Makayla Cuthertson lined a single between first and second to lead off the top of the seventh. With the tying run now at the plate, Cutcher recovered to retire the next three batters on a pop-up and two fly ball outs.
FMU thought it has gotten a sharp one-out single from slap-hitting third baseman
Madalyn White in the fourth frame, but she was ruled to have been out of the batter's box when she made contact – and that resulted in an out.
Wingate (45-14) tallied both its runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Designated player Hali Scott then lined a single to right field that scored two and give the Bulldogs the lead. Davis retired the next two batters on a line out and a fly out to end the threat.
Cutcher (14-7) fanned seven and did not issue a walk, while throwing 104 pitches.
FMU senior second baseman
Megan Matsil had her consecutive games streak of safely reaching base stopped at 33 contests.
Francis Marion is making its fourth-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and its second in as many years.
#17 Wingate 2, Francis Marion 0 (May 11, 2023 at Wingate, N.C.)
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Francis Marion...... 000 000 0 - 0 1 0 (41-12)
Wingate................ 000 200 X - 2 6 0 (45-14)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Rachel Davis and
Reagan Glanz. Wingate - Raechel Cutcher and
Hannah Stevens.
Win-Raechel Cutcher (14-7) Loss-
Rachel Davis (18-9) T-1:54 A-504
Weather: Clear, 76 degrees
