HEPHZIBAH, GA - Megan Rusk and Wendi Cochran each drove in two runs and UNC Pembroke pitcher Candace Evans stranded two Francis Marion University runners on base in the final inning as the Braves defeated FMU 5-4, Saturday morning (April 21), eliminating the fourth-seeded Patriots from the double-elimination Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.

Francis Marion (34-16) must now wait to see if the squad earns an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

UNCP grabbed an early lead by scoring three times in the top of the third inning.  FMU answered with a run-scoring single by shortstop Allie Aleman in the bottom of the frame.

The Braves, who swept three games from FMU during the 2007 campaign, upped their margin to 5-1 with two runs in the sixth.  The Patriots tallied three runs in their half of the inning - on a two-run single by Monica Wofford and an RBI single by Aleman - to trim the deficit to 5-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Patriot catcher Kayla Ruede doubled to open the inning and Megan Pangburn walked with one out.  Both runners moved up a base on an infield out, but Evans (11-16) got Shannan Tyson to fly out to end the game.

Tyson had two hits to extend her hitting streak to 10 games, while senior outfielder Jenna Sexton was 3-for-3 with a run scored.  Wofford and Aleman both had two hits and two RBIs as FMU outhit UNCP 11-8.

Freshman left-hander Michaela Wolf (21-10), the first of three FMU pitchers, surrendered three runs and was the loser. 

Jelena Shaw paced the Braves with a 2-for-4 day that saw her score twice, while Brittany Berrier was 2-for-4 with an RBI.