FLORENCE, SC – Sophomore third baseman
Madalyn White slapped an opposite-field run-scoring single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to color a Francis Marion University 3-2 walk-off win over Molloy University in the final game of Saturday's (Feb. 17) Raines Company Softball Classic. Earlier in the day, sophomore left-hander
Alyssa Poston took a no-hitter into the seventh inning to lead FMU to a 5-1 victory over Kutztown University.
The two-day tournament will continue on Sunday as the 7-2 Patriots take on Molloy (0-2) again at 11 a.m. and Kutztown (5-1) at 3 p.m. Molloy and Kutztown will meet in the middle contest at 1 p.m. Admission to the Griffin Athletic Complex is $10 for adults and $5 for students, with FMU students being admitted free with identification.
In the 3-2 win over Molloy, FMU sophomore right-hander
Jenna Walling (4-1) matched zeros with Molloy freshman Sophia Mariottini (0-1) over the first five frames.
In the bottom of the sixth, Patriot junior second baseman
Peyton Gale knocked an opposite field two-run homer to right that staked FMU to a 2-0 advantage.
In the seventh, Walling retired two of the first three runners before the Lions rallied to tie the game on freshman pinch-hitter Mariah Cepada's two-run single. In the bottom half of the inning, sophomore center fielder
Mikaela Goss led off with a hard single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior shortstop
Makayla Cuthbertson. White followed with her run-scoring single on the first pitch.
White registered two hits in both games of the twinbill.
In Saturday's opener against Kutztown, Poston (3-0) earned the win, while also delivering a pair of hits at the plate. She retired the first 10 batters she faced and allowed only two hit batters and one walk over six innings. She allowed a lead-off double, before Walling came on to record the final three outs.
FMU scored four times in the third inning to break up a scoreless deadlock. Junior left fielder
Emily Konz ripped a two-run double to left centerfield and senior catcher
Lauren Smallwood followed with a two-run single through the right side.
Gale accounted for the final Patriot run in the fifth with an RBI-single single to left.
In the other contest on Saturday, Kutztown edged Molloy 8-7.
Francis Marion Univ. 5, Kutztown University 1 (Feb 17, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Kutztown University. 000 000 1 - 1 2 0 (4-1)
Francis Marion Univ. 004 010 X - 5 10 0 (6-2)
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Pitchers: Kutztown University - Natalee Harvey; Amanda Slabicki(3) and Sarah Harvat.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Alyssa Poston;
Jenna Walling(7) and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Alyssa Poston(3-0) Loss-Natalee Harvey(2-1) T-1:37 A-104
Weather: Overcast,56,Wind S@18 mph
Poston faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Francis Marion Univ. 3, Molloy University 2 (Feb 17, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Molloy University.... 000 000 2 - 2 5 0 (0-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 002 1 - 3 8 0 (7-2)
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Pitchers: Molloy University - Mariottini, Sophia and Dusharme, Cheralyn. Francis Marion Univ. -
Jenna Walling and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Jenna Walling(4-1) Loss-Mariottini, Sophia(0-1) T-2:07 A-101
HR FMU_SB -
Peyton Gale (1).
Weather: Mostly Cloudy,57,Wind SE@7 mph
