FLORENCE, S.C. – Freshman left-hander Michaela Wolf pitched and hit Francis Marion University to a 6-5 game-one win and junior shortstop Allie Aleman homered twice in a 12-1 game-two victory as the Patriots swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from visiting Newberry College, Wednesday afternoon (March 7).

Francis Marion, which received votes in this week’s Top 25 poll, improves to 17-5, while Newberry falls to 12-11-1.

Wolf delivered the game-winning run in the first contest with a one-out line drive single over the out-stretched glove of the left fielder in the bottom of the seventh inning. Her hit plated Megan Pangburn, who was pinch-running for Janine Allen, who started the rally with a lead-off single.

Wolf (13-3) struck out seven and allowed only six hits. Newberry sophomore Stephanie Monette (4-6), a product of Conway High School, was the losing pitcher.

Wolf, Monica Wofford, and Allen all had two hits for the Patriots in the opener, while Wolf had two RBIs and Wofford and Allen each drove in one run. FMU senior right fielder Jenna Sexton belted a solo homer in the fifth frame.

Newberry senior Courtney Lindler was only a triple shy of the cycle as she went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Jessica Reid hit a two-run home run in the second and Kat Hammond hammered a game-tying, two-run shot in the sixth inning as all the Lady Indian runs came on long balls.

In the second game, Francis Marion scored five runs in both the third and fourth innings. All five of the third-inning tallies were unearned.

Aleman was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fourth. Freshman Kat Beauvais also had two hits and drove in two runs, while Shannan Tyson was 2-for-4 and Kayla Ruede was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.

Senior righty Jessica Johnson (3-1) picked up the win, while Newberry starter Christina Kirby (7-4) was the loser.

Lindler added another hit in game two, bit no Lady Indians had more than one hit in the second contest. Ginna Dean scored the lone run on a botched FMU run-down between third and home in the third inning.

Both teams will play in the Patriot Invitational Tournament, Friday through Sunday, at the Freedom Florence Softball Complex.