Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion softball team (20-11) won both games of a doubleheader – 3-0 and 10-2 – over Barton (13-16) Thursday at Patriots Stadium.
Game One – Francis Marion 3, Barton 0
The Patriots' Katelyn Ellard (Cary, N.C.) improved to 13-4 on the year after throwing a two-hit shutout against the Bulldogs. Ellard struck out seven batters while Taylor Johnson (San Diego, Calif.) hit a solo home run for Francis Marion.
Johnson also scored twice while Barton senior Makayla Meeks (Greenville, N.C.) fell to 3-4 after suffering the loss.
Game Two – Francis Marion 10, Barton 2 (five innings)
Barton finally got on the board with two runs in the top of the first inning but Francis Marion responded with five runs in its half of the frame on its way to 10 straight runs to run-rule the Bulldogs and complete the sweep.
Sophomore outfielder Taylor Freeman (Stem, N.C.) and freshman catcher McCrae Knapp (Hertford, N.C) drove in runs for the Bulldogs but the visitors were held off the board from the second inning on.
Francis Marion was led by Taylor Lutian (Cumming, Ga.) with two hits and three runs batted in and Danielle Karacson (Bartow, Fla.) with a two-run double while Janecia Hemingway (Conway, S.C.) improved to 6-4 after earning the victory. Barton junior Sierra Hearp (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) fell to 4-2 after being tagged with the loss.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday in a doubleheader at Jeffries Field beginning at Noon while Francis Marion plays USC Aiken on the road in a doubleheader on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
