AIKEN, S.C. – Junior third baseman Janine Allen drove in four runs with a home run and a sacrifice fly to lead sixth-seeded Francis Marion University to a 4-2 win over seventh-seeded USC Aiken, Friday afternoon (April 21) in the opening round of the Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.
Francis Marion (27-14) advances to face top-seeded Columbus State University, later Friday at 2 p.m., while USCA (25-17) drops into the losers’ bracket and will play Saturday morning.
Allen broke a scoreless tie in the fourth frame with a one-out, three-run homer to center field. It was her team-leading ninth round-tripper of the year. USCA trimmed the margin to 3-2 with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Catcher Jessica Strickland singled home the fifth-inning run, and the Pacers’ second run scored on a two-out Patriot error.
Allen added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, when her sacrifice fly plated freshman Megan Pangburn.
FMU junior second baseman Tatjana Slawson was 2-for-3 with a run scored. In addition to Allen’s 1-for-2 day, sophomore first baseman Monica Wofford (1-for-3) had the only other FMU safety.
Junior right-hander Jessica Johnson (16-6) recorded the complete-game win, allowing only five hits and one earned run. USCA’s Stacie Oakley (12-9) took the loss despite surrendering only four hits.
