FLORENCE, S.C. – The Barton College softball team (7-7) swept Francis Marion (4-8), 6-1 and 6-4, on the road in a doubleheader between two regional foes Wednesday at Patriots Stadium.
Game One – Barton 6, Francis Marion 1
Barton senior first baseman
Jordan Blake (Jackson Springs, N.C.) hit a two-run home run as part of a four-run first inning to help the Bulldogs take control on their way to the victory.
Barton senior outfielder
Morgan Shirley (Greenville, N.C.) added a two-run single in the fifth frame to round out the scoring for the visitors and finished with three hits while freshman
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) (4-2) notched the complete game victory. Jones allowed just one run while striking out seven batters.
For Francis Marion, Katie Smith (Greenwood, S.C.) drove in a run while Janecia Hemmingway (Conway, S.C.) fell to 0-4 after taking the loss.
Game Two – Barton 6, Francis Marion 4
Barton senior catcher
Kelsey Carroll (Lake Waccamaw, N.C.) broke a one-all tie with the game-winning, RBI single while Blake followed with a grand slam as part of a five-run seventh inning to lead the Bulldogs to the sweep.
Barton sophomore
AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.) (2-5) won her second straight contest and sophomore
Shelby Talley (Oxford, N.C.) registered the final three outs for the save as the Bulldogs completed the sweep. Francis Marion's Addie May (Vale, N.C.) finished with a pair of hits and an RBI while Taylor Florea (Blanchester, Ohio) (2-3) took the setback.
Barton remains on the road to take on Southern Wesleyan in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Friday in Central, S.C., beginning at 2:00 p.m., while Francis Marion hosts Augusta in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
