FLORENCE, SC – Senior right fielder
Katie Smith homered in both games and junior left fielder
Emily Konz rapped out five hits as Francis Marion University swept to a pair of wins on Sunday (Feb. 18), the final day of the Raines Company Softball Classic. The Patriots defeated Molly University 8-2 and Kutztown University 9-6.
Francis Marion improves to 9-2 and will host 16th-ranked Wingate University for a twinbill on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
In the victory over Molloy, sophomore southpaw
Alyssa Poston (4-0) registered the complete-game win, allowing only two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
Francis Marion scored three times in the first thanks to two-run triple to left center by junior second baseman
Peyton Gale and a run-scoring single down the left field line by Smith.
Smith's three-run homer over the left field highlighted a five-run outburst in the fourth frame. The inning also included an RBI-single by Konz, and sophomore designated hitter
Emma Moberg accounted for the other run with a fielder's choice grounder.
Smith finished the contest 3-for-3, while Konz and Gale had two hits apiece.
In Sunday's nightcap, Kutztown (6-2) took a 2-0 advantage in the top of the third against FMU sophomore right-hander
Jenna Walling (5-1). Walling's complete-game effort included three strikeouts among her 107 pitches.
The Patriots responded immediately with a trio of two-out runs in the bottom of the third. Konz drove home the first tally with an infield single that knocked down Kutztown hurler Haley Gravish (3-1), and senior catcher
Lauren Smallwood drilled a two-run single to right field.
The rally continued in the fourth frame as FMU plated six runs. Gale led off the inning with a double and Smith followed with a two-run shot over the right centerfield wall. After a pitching change by the Golden Bears, sophomore first baseman
Kendal Miller singled and sophomore center fielder
Mikaela Goss blasted two-run homer down the left field line increasing the margin to 7-2.
Following a second pitching change, junior shortstop Makay;a Cuthbertson singled and eventually came around to score on an RBI-single by Konz. Moberg drove home the final run with a single to right center.
Kutztown touched Walling for two runs in each of the last two innings, but came up three runs short.
Konz had three hits in the second contest, while Moberg, Gale, Miller, and Cuthbertson had two each as the Patriots totaled 14 hits. Konz, Smallwood, Smith, and Goss all drove in two runs.
In the other contest on Sunday, Kutztown defeated Molloy 7-4.
Francis Marion Univ. 8, Molloy University 2 (Feb 18, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Molloy University….. 000 110 0 - 2 7 1 (0-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 300 500 X - 8 12 0 (8-2)
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Pitchers: Molloy University - Macias, Brianna; Moussa, Natalie(1); Dabbadie, Stevie(5) and Dusharme, Cheralyn. Francis Marion Univ. -
Alyssa Poston and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Alyssa Poston (4-0) Loss-Macias, Brianna (0-2) T-2:04 A-111
HR FMU_SB -
Katie Smith (2).
Weather: Overcast,41,Wind SW @ 7mph
Francis Marion Univ. 9, Kutztown University 6 (Feb 18, 2024 at Florence, SC)
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Kutztown University. 002 002 2 - 6 10 0 (6-2)
Francis Marion Univ. 003 600 X - 9 14 1 (9-2)
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Pitchers: Kutztown University - Haley Gravish; Amanda Slabicki(4); Allyson Koerner(4) and Sarah Harvat. Francis Marion Univ. -
Jenna Walling and
Lauren Smallwood.
Win-
Jenna Walling (5-1) Loss-Haley Gravish (3-1) T-1:47 A-100
HR KUTZ-S - Emily Henn (1).
HR FMU_SB -
Katie Smith (3);
Mikaela Goss (1).
Weather: Overcast,48,Winds E @ 3mph
H. Gravish faced 2 batters in the 4th.
A. Slabicki faced 2 batters in the 4th.
