FLORENCE, SC – Augusta University claimed a non-conference doubleheader sweep of 14th-ranked Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 8) in softball action. The Jaguars won the opener 4-2 in 11 innings and the second contest by a 6-2 decision.
Francis Marion (4-2) will play a doubleheader at USC Aiken on Sunday (Feb. 9) at noon. The Patriots will then return home to entertain USC Beaufort for a pair of games on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
The losses ended a 20-game home field winning streak for the Patriots.
Patriot southpaw
Alyssa Poston (2-1) was the tough-luck loser in game one. Only two of the four runs she surrendered were earned and she only allowed three hits in the 11 innings. She struck out six and walked only one.
Senior left fielder
Emily Konz had two of the five FMU hits in the opener.
Neither team would score through the opening eight innings. Utilizing the international tie-breaker rule (placing a runner on second base), both teams tallied one run in the ninth frame. Freshman designated player
Rylee Gray accounted for the FMU run with an RBI-ground out.
After a scoreless 10th inning, Augusta (5-3) plated three runs in the top of the 11th. A run-scoring double by junior right fielder
Paige Strickland drew Francis Marion to within 4-2, but that ended the scoring.
Ansley Gibson (2-0) earned the complete-game win for Augusta.
In the second game, Augusta score twice in each of the first and third innings off FMU junior righty
Jenna Walling (2-1). FMU trimmed the deficit in half in the fifth frame when senior third baseman
Peyton Gale singled home a run and senior designated player
Samantha Turnage drove in a run with a ground out.
The Jaguars added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.
Four Patriots rapped out two hits apiece: junior shortstop
Madalyn White, junior catcher
Kendal Miller, junior first baseman
Tallulah Civoniceva, and Gale.
Hannah Turner (2-1) earned the game-two win and Madalyn Spinks earned her first save of 2025 with two scoreless innings.
Augusta University 4, #14 Francis Marion Univ. 2 (11 INNINGS) (Feb 08, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Augusta University.. 000 000 001 03 - 4 3 1 (4-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 000 001 01 - 2 5 0 (4-1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Augusta University - Ansley Gibson and Sophie Baker. Francis Marion Univ. -
Alyssa Poston and
Kendal Miller.
Win-Ansley Gibson Loss-
Alyssa Poston(2-1) T-2:45 A-100
Weather: Overcast,61,Wind W @ 6 mph
Augusta University 6, #14 Francis Marion Univ. 2 (Feb 08, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Augusta University.. 202 000 2 - 6 11 1 (5-3)
Francis Marion Univ. 000 020 0 - 2 10 1 (4-2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Augusta University - Hannah Turner; Madalyn Spinks(6) and Cadance Winder.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Jenna Walling;
Aliyah Gibson(4) and
Kendal Miller.
Win-Hannah Turner(2-1) Save-Madalyn Spinks(1) Loss-
Jenna Walling(2-1) T-2:10 A-0
