AIKEN, S.C. – Francis Marion University stranded 11 base runners on Saturday (April 22) allowing fifth-seeded USC Upstate to claim a 4-2 consolation bracket win, thus knocking the sixth-seeded Patriots out of the 2006 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.
Francis Marion most likely ends its season at 27-16, although the Patriots have a slim chance of earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament. USC Upstate improves to 41-15-1.
The Lady Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Erin Driggers scored on an error by FMU shortstop Allie Aleman and, three batters later, right fielder Heidi Gibbs drilled a two-run double.
FMU scored single runs in the third and fifth frames, on a pair of RBI hits by third baseman Janine Allen, to trim the margin to 3-2. USC Upstate added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Driggers walked with the bases loaded.
FMU outhit USC Upstate 10-7, but the Patriots left the bases loaded in the fifth inning and stranded two runners in the seventh.
FMU senior right-hander Jessica Johnson (16-7) suffered the loss, although two of the runs she surrendered were unearned. Jennifer Whited (15-3) picked up the win, while Jessica Jolley earned her first save of 2006 with 2.2 scoreless innings of relief.
Both Allen and FMU freshman designated player Shannan Tyson were 3-for-4, while freshman Lakyn Bendle was 2-for-3.
No Lady Spartan had more than one hit.
