DUNCAN, SC – Top-seeded and 21st-ranked Francis Marion University scored seven runs in the first inning and cruised to an 8-0 five-inning victory over second-seeded North Greenville University, Saturday afternoon (April 27) in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.
 
The defending tournament champion, Francis Marion improves to 44-10 and advances to the championship game on Sunday at noon.  North Greenville (36-19) drops to the elimination bracket final game on Saturday at 6 p.m.  Whichever team comes through the elimination bracket will have to beat the Patriots twice on Sunday to claim the title and the automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
Patriot senior right fielder Katie Smith continued her hot hitting with two hits, while junior left fielder Emily Konz also collected a pair of hits.  Eight of the ninth players in the FMU line-up registered a hit.
 
Francis Marion quickly loaded the bases in the first frame against NGU starter Karley Green (23-7).  Junior second baseman Peyton Gale drove in the first run with a bases-loaded walk.  Smith and senior catcher Lauren Smallwood each drilled 2-run singles to increase the margin to 5-0. 
 
Junior shortstop Makayla Cuthbertson lined an RBI-single to left and Konz completed the scoring with a run-scoring single through the left side as FMU sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening inning.
 
Senior first baseman Taylor Watford drilled a solo homer in the third to account for the final 8-0 margin.  It was her 14th long ball of the season, tying former Patriot outfielder Danielle Karacson for second most in a season.  It also ties her with Laurie Niego for fourth on the FMU career home run list with 26.  The blast represented her nation-leading 76th RBI, extending her FMU single-season record, .
 
FMU sophomore left-hander Alyssa Poston (26-4) was credited with the win as she tossed four scoreless innings.  She allowed only two hits and fanned three.
 
Sophomore righty Jenna Walling pitched a perfect 1-2-3 fifth to complete the run-rule contest.
 
Patriot head coach Stacey Vallee closed to with four wins of 600 for her 20-year career.
 
 
#21 Francis Marion 8, North Greenville 0 (4/27/2024 at Duncan, S.C.)
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North Greenville.... 000 00 -  0  2  0      (36-19)
Francis Marion...... 701 0X -  8 10  0      (44-10)
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Pitchers: North Greenville - Karley Green; Sydney Clark(1) and Maddie Stone. Francis Marion -
Alyssa Poston; Jenna Walling(5) and Lauren Smallwood.
Win-Alyssa Poston(26-4)  Loss-Karley Green(23-7)  T-1:28  A-147
HR FMU_SB - Taylor Watford (14).
Weather: sunny, partly cloudy, no wind
K. Green faced 5 batters in the 1st.