FLORENCE, S.C. – Danielle Myers hit a pair of two-run homers as Francis Marion University swept a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from Young Harris College Sunday (March 15) afternoon at the FMU Softball Stadium.
Myers' two-run shot in the second inning backed the six-hit pitching of freshman left-hander Kaitlin Munda in a 3-1 game-one win, while the Patriots held off a late Mountain Lion rally to claim game two by an 8-4 score.
Francis Marion improved to 15-9 overall and 4-2 in the Peach Belt, while Young Harris droppped to 13-7 and 2-2. Young Harris will return to action Monday (March 16) in Pembroke, Nourth Carolina, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Myers provided Francis Marion with a 2-0 lead in the second inning of the opener with her one-out long ball over the left field fence. The Patriot advantage increased to 3-0 when sophomore center fielder Mikala Barnhart singled home Munda. Munda (6-5) struck out five and walked only one.
The only run she surrendered was a sacrifice fly to Young Harris shortstop Murphy Davis in the top of the fifth. The Mountain Lions loaded the bases in the top of the seventh with two outs, but Munda got Sarah Magill to pop out to end the contest.
Stacia Williams (2-for-3) was the lone Mountain Lion with multiple hits in the opener. Southpaw Darby Stanford (8-2) was the losing pitcher.
FMU built an early 6-0 lead after three innings in the nightcap, thanks to two-run homers from Myers and Shelby Kelley. Young Harris trimmed the margin to 6-4 when Magill clouted a grand slam over the right center field wall. Magill leads the Mountain Lions with six home runs and 31 RBI.
FMU answered back with two runs in the sixth when Lopez delivered a run-scoring single to center and Shelby Mathews hit an RBI fielder's choice grounder. Patriot senior right-hander Katie Carnes (6-1) earned the game-two win, while Kelley came on to earn her third save of the 2015 campaign. Kelley stranded five Mountain Lion runners on base over the final two innings – including escaping a bases-loaded no-out situation in the top of the sixth inning.
Lindsay Tudor was 2-for-4 for Young Harris. Jeanie Perrucci (5-3) was tagged with the loss as she allowed six runs in three innings.
