FLORENCE, S.C. -- The Georgia Southwestern State University softball team was swept 8-0 and 9-1 at the hands of Francis Marion in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Sunday.
The Lady Canes fall to 18-25 overall and 7-7 in league play while the Patriots improve to 18-20 and 4-10 in the PBC with the two run-rule victories.
How It Happened:
Game 1: Georgia Southwestern 0 Francis Marion 8
Francis Marion jumped out early and put the Lady Canes in a big hole by scoring eight runs (five earned) off starter Madason Messer in 2 ⅓ innings. Ansley Dean came on in relief and gave up just one hit over the final 1 ⅔ but the damage was done as GSW trailed 8-0.
The Lady Canes could only manage to scratch out one hit against FMU starter Sydney Holland who went the full five innings while walking one and striking out four. Mikela Barlow led off the fourth with a double before the next three batters were set down in order by Holland.
Holland improved to 11-12 with the complete game victory as Messer dropped to 8-5.
Game 2: Georgia Southwestern 1 Francis Marion 9
GSW scored the first run of the game in the third to take their only lead of the day. Barlow led off the frame with a single, advanced to second on a fielder's choice and crossed the plate when Lauren Kuerzi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
After four straight scoreless innings dating back to the first game FMU finally got to Ansley Dean in the bottom half of the third. The Patriots scored three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 lead after three complete.
The Lady Canes recorded just one more hit the rest of the way off starter Samantha Wroblewski and Holland in relief. Barlow went 2-for-3 to lead GSW while Kuerzi and Shannon Gibson each recorded a hit in two plate appearances.
FMU scored two more in the fifth off of Dean and four runs in 1 ⅓ innings against reliever Brittany Childs to take their second run-rule victory of the day.
Up Next: The Lady Canes return home for a Saturday doubleheader against conference leader and No. 2 ranked North Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the second game to follow at 3:00.