FLORENCE, SC – Senior right-hander Melanie Bisek scattered seven hits as 10th-ranked Francis Marion University claimed a 4-1 game-two win to salvage a split of Tuesday’s Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader with Columbus State University. CSU’s Sarah Moore drilled a two-run home run over the center field fence in the top of the eighth inning to give the Cougars a 4-2 come-from-behind victory in the opener.
Francis Marion senior first baseman Monica Wofford was hit by a pitch (in the left leg) in the bottom of the eighth inning of game one – the 51st time in her career she has been hit by a pitch setting a new NCAA Division II record. She surpassed the previous mark of 50 set by A.J. Miller of Pittsburg State University between 2003 and 2005. Just for good measure, the Myrtle Beach native was hit again in game two upping her total to 52.
Francis Marion is now 28-7 overall and 8-4 in the PBC. The game-one loss was only the third defeat for the Patriots in their last 21 contests. Columbus State sees its record move to 15-14 and 8-6.
FMU scored four times in the bottom of the first inning off CSU righty Ashley Chastain (6-6) in game two. Outfielder Jessica Birchmeier drove in two runs with a double to left center, while one run scored on an error and one on an illegal pitch.
FMU junior shortstop Shannan Tyson and Wofford both collected two hits in the win.
Bisek (7-1) made those runs stand up and she allowed only seven singles and two walks. She also made the defensive play of the game in the top of the sixth frame. With no outs and runners on second and third, she made a head-first diving catch of a squeeze bunt attempt and then doubled the runner off of third base.
CSU scored its only run on an RBI single in the third by Carrie Jones. Jones and Tamela Bell both had two hits in the second game to pace the Cougars.
Moore’s homer, her second of the year, made a winner of senior right-hander Rachael Darr (7-5) in the opener. Columbus State trailed 2-0 with one out in the top of the seventh before rallying to force extra innings off FMU sophomore southpaw Michaela Wolf (19-5).
The Cougars loaded the bases on two hits and a hit batter in the seventh. After a force out at home plate, Wolf hit Cassie Cooper to force in one run, and Kristi Bullard scored the tying run on a wild pitch. After Moore’s home run in the eighth, Francis Marion put the tying runs on base, including Wofford’s record-setting at bat, but Darr retired Birchmeier on a liner to left and Wolf hit into a force play to end the game.
Wolf’s solo drive over the center field fence in the fourth frame and an RBI single by Tyson in the fifth had staked the Patriots to a 2-0 advantage. Wolf had allowed only one hit and four total base runners entering the seventh inning.
Moore had a single in addition to her homer to finish game one 2-for-4, while Birchmeier (2-for-4) was the lone Patriot with multiple hits in the opener.
Francis Marion will host USC Aiken on Saturday at 1 p.m. for Senior Day, while Columbus State plays in the X-Trem Classic in Dahlonega, Ga., on Friday.
