FLORENCE, S.C - Georgia Southwestern ended a frustrating outing Saturday afternoon dropping a pair of games to Francis Marion (17-7, 5-1 PBC). GSW (16-14, 1-5 PBC) lost late-game leads in both contests as the Patriots rallied past the Lady Hurricanes to sweep the doubleheader.
Game 1: FMU 2, GSW 1
In the opening contest a stellar effort by junior pitcher Allison Pastor was spoiled by late-game heroics by the Patriots.
GSW lit up the scoreboard first when a Haley Knight RBI single scored Rachel McElroy in the second inning to give the Lady Hurricanes a 1-0 advantage.
Southwestern held that advantage through four scoreless inngins until Francis Marion rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Patriots notched two runs off a pair of GSW errors to take a 2-1 victory in heartbreaking fashion.
The FMU rally spoiled a tremendous pitching performance by Pastor (6-4) who was credited with the loss.
The junior threw for 6.2 innings giving up a pair of runs off just two hits while striking out seven for the Lady 'Canes.
The Blue and Gold had five hits on the contest paced by Knight who was credited with a pair of hits for GSW.
Game 2: FMU 5, GSW 3
Southwestern jumped out to the quick lead once again as GSW scored two runs over the first two innings to jump out to an early 2-0 advantage.
Francis Marion began their rally in the fifth inning scoring a run off a Lady 'Cane error.
The Patriots' bats came alive in the sixth inning as FMU scored four runs off four hits to take a 5-2 advantage.
An Avery Purser RBI single in the top of the seventh inning scored Haley Knight but Southwestern couldn't find enough offense to threaten the Patriots ultimately falling, 5-3.
Knight once again led GSW with three hits on the afternoon while Purser finished with a pair of RBIs for the Lady Hurricanes.
Knight finished the day with five hits and a RBI for Southwestern.
Starting GSW pitcher Ashley Cavender (5-4) was credited with the loss as the sophomore pitched 5.2 innings giving up five runs off ten hits.
GSW will be back in action Tuesday, March 12, as the Lady Hurricanes travel to West Georgia for a pair of games against the Wolves starting at 2 p.m. EST.