FLORENCE, SC – Seventh-ranked Francis Marion University pounded out 30 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep, 9-0 and 19-1, of visiting Erskine College, Friday evening (March 21) in Conference Carolinas softball action.
Francis Marion improves to 27-3 overall and 9-1 in conference play. The Patriots will host Shorter University on Saturday at 1 p.m. as FMU celebrates Alumni Day.
While Patriot batters were scoring 28 runs, three FMU pitchers limited Erskine to three hits and one run over the two five-inning contests.
In the opener, junior left-hander
Alyssa Poston (15-1) tossed a one-hit shutout as she struck out 12 of the 16 batters she faced.
Junior designated player
Kendal Miller collected two hits, including a grand slam, and drove in five runs, while junior outfielder
Paige Strickland went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Senior outfielder
Emily Konz also had two hits and scored twice.
FMU scored three times in the bottom of the first, and junior second baseman
Rylie Webster launched her first home run as a Patriot, a solo shot over the left-center field wall in the second inning as Francis Marion built a 5-0 lead. The final four runs came in the fourth frame.
Erskine freshman starter Lillian Hansen (0-3) was tagged with the loss.
Francis Marion totaled 19 hits in game two. The scoring outburst consisted of two runs in the first, six in the third and 11 runs in the fourth inning.
Strickland continued her perfect day at the plate by going 4-for-4 in the second contest, including a double and a triple, and she drove in five runs. Junior outfielder
Anderson Thrower tied a Patriot single-game record with four singles and she scored four times and had one RBI.
Senior third baseman
Peyton Gale rapped out three hits, including a long three-run homer, and drove home five. Junior shortstop
Madalyn White had three hits at the top of the line-up and scored twice with one RBI, while freshman catcher
Rylee Gray and Webster both went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in.
Konz had one hit in the second contest to extend her hitting streak to 14 games.
Junior righty
Jenna Walling (8-1) was the beneficiary of the onslaught. She allowed just one run on two hits with four strikeouts.
Mallory Ruzicka (1-4) was the game-two loser.
#7 Francis Marion Univ. 19, Erskine College 1 (Mar 21, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 2)
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Erskine College..... 000 1 0 - 1 2 2 (4-18, 0-6 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 206 (11)X - 19 19 1 (27-3, 9-1 CC)
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Pitchers: Erskine College - Mallory Ruzicka; Ali Meeker(4) and Ellie Rapson.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Jenna Walling;
Abby Williams(5) and
Rylee Gray.
Win-
Jenna Walling(8-1) Loss-Mallory Ruzicka(1-4) T-1:55 A-0
HR ERSKIN~1 - Peyton Raybon (2).
HR FMU_SB -
Peyton Gale (6).
Weather: Clear, 64, Winds E @ 6 mph
#7 Francis Marion Univ. 9, Erskine College 0 (Mar 21, 2025 at Florence, SC) (Game 1)
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Erskine College..... 000 00 - 0 1 1 (4-17, 0-5 CC)
Francis Marion Univ. 320 4X - 9 11 0 (26-3, 8-1 CC)
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Pitchers: Erskine College - Lillian Hansen; Summer Nelson(4) and Peyton Raybon.
Francis Marion Univ. -
Alyssa Poston and
Rylee Gray;
Marlee McCormick.
Win-
Alyssa Poston(15-1) Loss-Lillian Hansen(0-3) T-1:24 A-173
HR FMU_SB -
Kendal Miller (4);
Rylie Webster (1).
Weather: Sunny,62,Winds E @ 9 mph
Lillian Hans faced 3 batters in the 4th.
