DUNCAN, SC – A run-scoring single by senior third baseman
Peyton Gale capped a three-run sixth-inning rally as second-ranked and top-seeded Francis Marion University beat sixth-seeded Southern Wesleyan University 3-2 on Saturday afternoon (Apr. 26) in an elimination game at the 2025 Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.
The Patriots (44-4) advance to face fourth-seeded University of Mount Olive later on Saturday night at approximately 6:30 p.m. in another elimination game at the Tyger River Park complex in Duncan, S.C.
Senior All-Conference outfielder
Emily Konz led FMU at the plate with two hits, while extending her hitting streak to 12 games.
Junior right-handed pitcher
Jenna Walling (15-1) earned the win in the circle with 4.2 innings of relief work. The first-team All-Conference selection scattered four hits, allowed one run, and struck out seven against no walks. The Johns Island, S.C., native moves into a tie for third place on the Patriot career pitching wins list with a 52-8 mark.
The Warriors (30-14) scored single runs in the second and fifth frames to forge a 2-0 advantage. Southern Wesleyan starter Chloe Smith (8-5) silenced the Patriots on three hits through the first five frames.
In the decisive sixth inning, Konz led off with a double to center field. Junior outfielders
Paige Strickland and
Anderson Thrower both reached on infield singles to loaded the bases with no outs. Freshman catcher
Rylee Gray drove in Francis Marion's first run with a grounder to short that was errored on. Freshman Reees Miller lifted a would-be hit to right field that ended up being a force out at second, but scored Strickland to knot the score. Gale followed with her RBI-single up the middle that gave FMU its first lead at 3-2.
Despite allowing a one-out single in the seventh, Walling retired the next two batters to end the game.
#2 Francis Marion 3, Southern Wesleyan 2 (Apr 26, 2025 at Duncan, SC)
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Southern Wesleyan... 010 010 0 - 2 7 2 (30-14)
Francis Marion.......... 000 003 X - 3 7 0 (44-4)
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Pitchers: Southern Wesleyan – Chloe Smith and Abby Schreiner. Francis Marion -
Alyssa Poston;
Jenna Walling (3) and
Kendal Miller,
Rylee Gray (6).
Win-
Jenna Walling (15-1) Loss-Chloe Smith (8-5) T-2:00 A-109
Weather: Partly cloudy
Poston faced 2 batters in the 3rd.
