FLORENCE, S.C. – Freshman outfielder Lakyn Bendle hit a walk-off home run in game one and third baseman Janine Allen clouted two homers in game two to lift Francis Marion University to a doubleheader sweep, 4-3 and 12-4, of visiting Kutztown University, Saturday afternoon (March 18) in non-conference women's softball action.

The Patriots have won each of their last four games in their final at bat, albeit due to the mercy rule in Saturday’s second contest, and up their record to 17-7. Kutztown drops to 7-7.

In the first game, Bendle hit a 3-1 pitch from Kutztown reliever Rachel Weidensaul over the right center field fence to make a winner of FMU junior right-hander Jessica Johnson (9-3).

After Kutztown took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by second baseman Kim Morrison, Francis Marion tallied three runs in the bottom of the frame. Allen tripled in two runs, and later scored on a double by Monica Wofford.   That lead held until Golden Bear third baseman Krista Cameron belted a two-run home run to right center field in the sixth inning.

Both Bendle and Tatjana Slawson had two hits for the Patriots. Five different Kutztown players had one hit apiece.

Johnson fanned six in the victory.

In the second game, Kutztown took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Ashley Fitzgerald delivered an RBI single through the right side of the infield, and another run scored when the ball was misplayed by Bendle.

FMU regained the lead with a five-run third inning, that was highlighted by Allen’s three-run homer. Kutztown scored twice in the fifth to trim the margin to 5-4, thanks to run-scoring doubles by Jennie Lincoln and Stephanie Denlinger. The Patriots answered with six runs in the bottom of the frame. Three runs scored on two Kutztown errors, while Slawson had an RBI double and Allen smacked a two-run home run. FMU junior Jenna Sexton ended the game with a sacrifice fly in the last of the sixth inning.

Seven different Patriots had two hits in game two, including Allen who had five runs batted in. Denlinger was 2-for-3 for Kutztown with an RBI.

Francis Marion freshman righty Serena Lim (7-4) earned the win, while Weidensaul started the second game and was tagged with the loss.

FMU will play host to local-rival Coker College, Sunday at 1 p.m.