FLORENCE, SC – Seniors Mikaela Goss and Maddy Golka combined for five runs batted in to lead sixth-ranked Francis Marion University to a 9-1 game-one win and a split of its Conference Carolina doubleheader with visiting University of Mount Olive, Friday (March 4) in Conference Carolinas softball play.  The Trojans won the second game 9-8.
 
For Francis Marion (17-6, 2-2) it will be a quick return to the field as the Patriots host Chowan University in a conference twinbill on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
In the opening contest, FMU scored seven times in the fifth frame to break open a close game and invoke the 8-run mercy rule.  Senior left field Anderson Thrower had two hits at the top of the Patriot line-up.
 
Senior right-hander Jenna Walling (11-3) was the beneficiary of the outburst.  She allowed a single run in the top of the first and then blanked the Trojans the rest of the way to finish with a three-hitter and six strikeouts against no walks.
 
After falling down 1-0, FMU evened the game in the third.  Golka worked a lead-off walk, advanced to second on a single by Thrower, went to third on a fly out, and scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Patriots went up 2-1 in the fourth when senior catcher Kendal Miller scored on an RBI-fielder's choice bloop to right-center field by Goss.
 
The fifth-inning explosion included bases-loaded walks to Kendal Miller, sophomore third baseman Reese Miller, and senior right fielder Paige Strickland.  Golka followed with a two-run double off the top of the left field fence that just missed being a grand slam.  Next up was Goss, who ended the contest with a two-run single back up the middle through a drawn-in infield.
 
Emma Myatt (3-3) was the losing pitcher.
 
In the second game, Francis Marion jumped out to a 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning.  Thrower was hit by a pitch to lead off and eventually came around to score on passed ball.  Reese Miller later belted a two-run single.
 
The Trojans scored eight straight runs over the next three innings to assume an 8-3 advantage.  FMU answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth as Kendal Miller lined an RBI-single to center and Thrower scored on a two-out fielding error.
 
Mount Olive (9-11, 3-1) added an unearned run in the top of the fifth to stretch the margin to 9-5.  Francis Marion rallied with three runs n the bottom of the sixth to trim the deficit to 9-8.  Thrower singled and later scored on a wild pitch, while Golka hit a run-scoring single to center and junior third baseman Rachel Little lined a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kendal Miller.
 
The Patriots were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Kendal Miller, Golka, and Strickland all had two hits in the nightcap.
 
Freshman righty Reese Watson (0-1) made her career start and was tagged with the loss.
 
Junior Alex Steen (6-4) earned the win for Mount Olive as she scattered eight hits, fanned 10, and threw 162 pitches.
 
FMU junior designated hitter McKenzie Jewell was hit by a pitch in each game to extend her streak of safely reaching base to 20 games.