FLORENCE, S.C. –
Hannah Foster went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored in game two, while
Jasmine Fong surrendered only two runs in 4.2 innings of work to earn her first collegiate win, to lead the Lees-McRae softball team to a split against host Francis Marion in the Conference Carolinas doubleheader this afternoon. The Bobcats dropped a 7-3 loss in game one.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Francis Marion – 7; Lees-McRae – 3
LOCATION: FMU Softball Stadium – Florence, South Carolina
RECORDS: Francis Marion (15-11/1-2), Lees-McRae (6-13/0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Emma Jackson and Lauren Ritchie both collected multiple hits, with Jackson hitting a triple in the top of the fourth, and combined for two RBIs and a run scored to pace the Bobcats in the opening game.
- Christian Welch connected on a pinch-hit RBI single, while Foster went 1 for 3 with a run scored.
- Aliyah Compton, Megan Powell, and Rylie Webster all collected hits in game one, with Powell hitting a double.
- Francis Marion opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with two runs on three hits to take the early lead.
- After the Patriots pushed the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third, Lees-McRae used an RBI triple by Jackson and an RBI single by Ritchie to cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth.
- Francis Marion scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, but an RBI single by Welch in the top of the sixth cut the lead to 5-3.
- The Patriots scored two final runs in the bottom of the sixth and held the Bobcats scoreless in the top of the seventh to clinch the opening game.
- Powell and Jenna Bullard gave up a combined seven earned runs on eight hits for the Bobcats.
FOR THE FOES:
- Three Patriots collected multiple hits in game one, led by Lauren Smallwood with two RBIs.
- Rachel Davis earned the win in the circle, while Janecia Hemingway picked up the save.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lees-McRae – 5; Francis Marion – 4
LOCATION: FMU Softball Stadium – Florence, South Carolina
RECORDS: Lees-McRae (7-13/1-1), Francis Marion (15-12/2-2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Foster went 3 for 4 from the dish with two RBIs and a run scored to pace the Bobcats in the later game, while Julie Gast went 2 for 3 with a run scored.
- Jordyn Scott went 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored, with Jackson going 1 for 3 with an RBI.
- Compton also collected a hit in the later game, while Lauren Ritchie scored a run.
- Lees-McRae sprinted out of the gates as Jackson singled to left field to score Foster from third base, Webster reached on a fielding error to score Powell, and Scott singled to score Ritchie to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead.
- Francis Marion closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on two hits.
- After the game was restarted following a two-hour rain delay, Foster singled up the middle to score both Gast and Scott to give the Bobcats a 5-2 lead.
- The Patriots trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- Francis Marion was able to score one final run in the bottom of the seventh after having a play overturned by an appeal, but the Bobcats were able to get the final out on the next at-bat to clinch the conference win.
- Powell gave up an earned run on two hits in just over two innings of work, before Fong surrendered two runs on six hits in 4.2 innings of work to clinch her first win as a Bobcat.
FOR THE FOES:
- Ashtyn Patterson went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored to pace the Patriots.
- Hemingway and Casey Kurent gave up only two earned runs on eight hits for Francis Marion.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcat will close out the conference weekend as they visit UNC Pembroke tomorrow at 1 p.m.
For more information on Lees-McRae Athletics, follow the Bobcats on Twitter (@LMCBobcats), on Facebook (Lees-McRae Athletics), and on Instagram (leesmcraeathletics).
