FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-handed pitcher Jenna Walling delivered a walk-off homer in Game 1 while registering two victories in the circle, as the No. 10-ranked Francis Marion University softball program swept Day 2 of the Swamp Fox Sizzler with a 5-3 win over Ferris State University and a 5-1 victory against Tusculum University on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 14).

The Patriots extend their winning streak to seven-straight and improve to 9-1 overall with a 6-0 mark at the FMU Softball Field. Francis Marion will face Catawba College on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 3 p.m. in a regional non-conference doubleheader.

In Saturday's opener, redshirt senior second baseman Rylie Webster launched a two-run homer, her third of the year, in the top of the second inning to get FMU on the board, 2-0. The Patriots would add to their lead in the third with an RBI single to center field by senior left fielder Anderson Thrower.

The Bulldogs of Ferris State rallied in the sixth inning with a solo homer and a two-run single to tie the contest at 3-3 entering the final frame.

After Walling retired the side in order, she stepped to the plate and belted a walk-off two-run homer to center field to seal the 5-3 win.

Senior shortstop Madalyn White logged a multi-hit performance (2-for-3) while Webster and Walling each tallied two runs batted in.

Walling (5-0) earned the win after tossing 1.2 innings of scoreless relief with only one hit allowed. Senior southpaw Alyssa Poston took a no-decision after yielding three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Ferris State dropped to 2-5 following the loss, and Cecelia Bell was saddled with the loss (1-3) after pitching 6.1 innings.

In the second contest, the Patriots faced off with the Pioneers of Tusculum in the regional matchup. FMU grabbed the early 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first following a bases-loaded walk, but the Pioneers escaped the frame without further damage.

Tusculum tied the game at 1-1 in the third with a solo homer to left center while the Patriots stranded two runners in scoring position in the bottom half of the inning.

Francis Marion regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with three runs on three hits, all coming with two outs. Junior designated player McKenzie Jewell blasted her third homer of the season off the scoreboard in left field to take a 2-1 lead. Webster followed with an RBI double off the top of the wall before Walling drove in another run with a single to right center, 4-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, FMU added an insurance run as White stole third and came in to score on a throwing error by the catcher. The Patriots retired the final nine batters of the game to secure the 5-1 victory.

Walling (6-0) pitched a complete game while surrendering just one run on three hits with four strikeouts and zero walks.

Redshirt senior right fielder Paige Strickland finished 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Webster hit 1-for-2 with two RBIs, one run scored, and one walk.

Tusculum fell to 3-5 overall, and Chelsey Stonesifer suffered the loss (2-3) after pitching 5.1 innings.