FLORENCE, SC – Two shutouts, including a combined no-hitter in Game 2 on Saturday afternoon (March 7), led No. 6-ranked Francis Marion University to a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader sweep over Chowan University with a 5-0 victory in Game 1 and a 10-0 run-rule win in Game 2.

With the sweep, the Patriots improve to 19-6 overall with a 4-2 mark in conference play. Francis Marion continues league divisional play on Tuesday, March 10, when it hosts a doubleheader versus Barton College at 4 p.m.

Graduate student right-handed pitcher Jenna Walling (12-3) tossed a two-hit shutout in the first game, while fanning a career-high 12 against only two walks. She registered her 69th career victory and became only the fifth Patriot hurler to reach 400 career strikeouts (now with 409).

Walling also had two hits in the opener, as did senior left fielder Anderson Thrower.

The Patriots took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Thrower led off with a double to left center, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a throwing error after a fly out.

The other FMU tallies all came in the bottom of the fourth.  A walk to senior second baseman Maddy Golka and singles by Walling and sophomore third baseman Reese Miller loaded the bases with one out.  Senior shortstop Rylie Webster then lined a 2-1 pitch into center fielder for a three-run double.  Following a single by sophomore designated player Rylee Gray, senior right fielder Paige Strickland drove in the final run with an RBI ground out.

Chowan sophomore starter Makenzi Curry (5-3) was the losing pitcher.

In Game 2, Walling and freshman righty Laini Kosinski combined for a no-hitter, the 40th in program history. Walling (13-3) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in the start with three strikeouts and just one walk (44 pitches). Kosinski pitched the final two frames (20 pitches) in the run-rule victory and retired the final six Chowan batters to seal the shutout.

The Patriots took the early lead on a two-out RBI single to center field by Thrower in the bottom of the second.

Francis Marion exploded for seven runs on five hits in the third frame after batting around the lineup. Webster delivered a two-run single to left-center before advancing to second on the throw. Following a walk, senior center fielder Mikaela Goss belted a two-run double to left-center before Golka laced a single up the middle to drive in two more runs. Walling capped the inning with an RBI double to right field, 8-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Goss registered two more RBIs with a two-out double to right-center, 10-0.

Goss finished Game 2 going 2-for-3 with two doubles, 4 RBIs, and one run scored. Webster went 2-for-2 with two runs batted in, two runs scored, and one walk.

Freshman starter Callie Tyndall (0-1) of Chowan suffered the loss.