FLORENCE, SC – Junior right-hander Jenna Walling and junior southpaw Alyssa Poston combined to allow only five hits as 14th-ranked Francis Marion University swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from USC Aiken, winning 2-1 and 6-0 on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 9).
 
Francis Marion improves to 6-2 and will host USC Beaufort for a twinbill on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on the FMU Softball Field.  Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students with FMU students admitted free with identification.
 
Poston (3-1) tossed a three-hitter in the opening contest.  The Hartsville native struck out four and issued just one walk.
 
After the Pacers scored a single run in the second inning, FMU knotted the score with a tally in the fifth.  Senior third baseman Peyton Gale led off with a single down the left field line, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a two-out RBI-single to center by junior second baseman Rylie Webster.
 
The winning score came in the top of the seventh when Gale led off with a walk and one batter later came home when junior first baseman Tallulah Civoniceva tripled to right field.
 
Payton Baker (4-2) absorbed the loss despite holding the Patriots to three hits and striking out nine.
 
Walling (3-1) threw a two-hit shutout in game two.  She fanned six and walked only one.
 
Senior left fielder Emily Konz had three hits, a run scored, and two driven in to lead FMU at the plate.  Junior right fielder Paige Strickland collected two hits and drove in one run.
 
The Patriots plated three runs in the top of the first, which would prove enough for Walling.  Junior designated player Emma Moberg cracked a two-run single to center and Strickland plated the third run with a sacrifice fly.
 
USCA starter Lakyn Phillips (1-1) was the game-two loser.