DUNCAN, SC – Junior right-handed pitcher
Jenna Walling pitched a three-hit game-two shutout and received a key defensive play from senior center fielder
Emily Konz as fourth-ranked Francis Marion University swept a doubleheader from the Converse University, winning 10-7 and 5-0 on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 13) in Conference Carolinas softball play.
FMU, now 41-3 overall and 21-1 in conference play, extends its winning streak to 20 games with the sweep. The Patriots will conclude their regular-season schedule with a doubleheader at UNC Pembroke on Wednesday at 4 p.m. The Battle of I-95 twinbill will be played at Purnell Swett High School in Maxton, N.C.
Walling (13-1) struck out 10 batters for the second time this season and she did not issue a walk.
Junior right fielder
Paige Strickland staked Walling to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a run-scoring double to right-center field. That hit extended her hitting streak to 19 games.
That one-run margin remained into the bottom of the fifth when Converse put a runner on first with one out. First baseman Kiarra Thomas lifted a high fly ball to straight-away center field, but Konz reached over the temporary fence to rob her of a two-run homer.
Junior catcher
Kendal Miller extended the lead to 2-0 with a two-out solo home run to left in the top of the sixth inning. FMU plated three more runs in the seventh as junior first baseman
Tallulah Civoniceva drilled a lead-off homer to left, and later with two outs, Konz lifted an RBI-double to left and Strickland scored Konz with an RBI-single to left.
Junior third shortstop
Madalyn White rapped out three hits and scored twice, while Strickland and Civoniceva both had two hits in the second contest.
In game one, FMU took advantage of Converse errors to secure the victory. Two-out errors by the Valkyries allowed for two runs in the first, two runs in the second, one run in the fourth, and one run in the sixth.
Junior right fielder
Paige Strickland added a two-run single in the second inning and senior designated player
Samantha Turnage and junior catcher
Kendal Miller each delivered RBI-doubles as FMU built a 10-2 advantage.
Converse scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and Thomas cranked a three-run home run in the seventh to help account for the final three-run margin.
FMU junior left-hander
Alyssa Poston (22-1) earned the win with four innings of work. She allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out eight. One day after Walling became only the fourth Patriot hurler to win 50 career games, Poston becomes the fifth.
Right-hander CJ McBride (4-12) was the losing pitcher for Converse.
Strickland and senior third baseman
Peyton Gale led Francis Marion with two hits apiece in the opener. Senior outfielder
Emily Konz went 1-for-3 and scored three times.
#4 Francis Marion 10, Converse 7 (4/13/2025 at Spartanburg, S.C.) (Game 1)
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Francis Marion...... 241 102 0 - 10 10 0 (40-3, 20-1 CONF CAR)
Converse............ 020 002 3 - 7 9 5 (18-27, 10-11 CONF CAR)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Alyssa Poston;
Aliyah Gibson(5);
Abby Williams(6) and
Kendal Miller. Converse - CJ McBride and Ava Wells; Karlie Gibson.
Win-
Alyssa Poston(22-1) Loss-CJ McBride(4-12) T-2:30 A-79
HR CONVERSE - Madison Davis (3); Kiarra Thomas (6).
Weather: sunny, breeze out
Gibson faced 3 batters in the 6th.
#4 Francis Marion 5, Converse 0 (4/13/2025 at Spartanburg, S.C.) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 100 001 3 - 5 10 0 (41-3, 21-1 CONF CAR)
Converse............ 000 000 0 - 0 3 0 (18-28, 10-12 CONF CAR)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion -
Jenna Walling and
Kendal Miller. Converse - Riley Lingerfelt and Ava Wells; Karlie Gibson.
Win-
Jenna Walling(14-1) Loss-Riley Lingerfelt(13-12) T-1:45 A-61
HR FMU_SB -
Kendal Miller (5);
Tallulah Civoniceva (8).
Weather: breeze RtL, no clouds
