Softball comes up short in doubleheader at FMU

Florence, S.C. —- The Catawba College Softball team was defeated by Francis Marion in a pair of games on Saturday, falling to 9-11 after dropping an 8-0 contest in five innings to open the day and then beating just edged out in a much closer game two, an 8-9 heartbreaker at FMU Stadium. 

GAME ONE | Francis Marion 8, Catawba 0 - F/5 

TEAM STATS 

- Francis Marion out-hit Catawba 8-0, with Patriots starter Alyssa Poston throwing a five-inning no-hitter 

- Francis Marion batters walked four times, with four players also being left on base. For Catawba, there were no walks and one player left on base  

- Boston struck out seven Catawba batters, moving to 9-1 on the season. For Catawba, Riley Tucker would strike out three batters and walk two, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. Alex Baquiepitched 0.1 of an inning, issuing a pair of walks and allowing an earned run  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SECOND INNING 

- After a scoreless first inning for both sides, Francis Marion started making contact in the bottom of the second to get two runs on the board 

- With two runners on after a single and a double, Makayla Cuthberson sent another double into left field to bring both players home for a 2-0 Patriots lead 

THIRD INNING 

- It would prove to be a similar scenario in the third inning; with the first two batters getting aboard via a single and a walk, Peyton Gale cranked a home-run into right field to make it 5-0 to Francis Marion  

FIFTH INNING 

- After Francis Marion's first two batters got on-base through a single and being hit by a pitch, Tucker was replaced by Baquie in the circle. However, Baquie would load the bases by hitting Katie Smith, and then walked the next two batters up for the Patriots, making it 7-0 

- Cuthberson, who opened the scoring with a double in the second inning, would end the game in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to left field that brought Smith home for the winning eighth run  

GAME TWO | Catawba 8, Francis Marion 9 

TEAM STATS 

- Francis Marion out-hit Catawba 9-8 in a much livelier game two, with the Patriots notching eight RBIs to seven for Catawba 

- Francis Marion also led in walks, 9-7 

- Catawba would leave more runners stranded, with 10 to Francis Marion's eight  

- In the circle, Francis Marion's staff recorded two strikeouts, with Catawba's pitchers striking out one batter   

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS 

- Tucker and Kary Hales each recorded a pair of hits, while Bri Gallagher, Christina Brendle, Kinsley Caldwell, and Savanna Balderston each finding contact once 

- Hales, Gallagher, and Brendle all drove in a pair of runs each, with Tucker responsible for the other RBI 

- Flynn and Courtnee Carter each drew a pair of walks, with Tucker, Allie Burns, and Aniyah King all earning one each  

- Baquie started on the mound, but was replaced by Herring before the end of the first inning. Herring would go the rest of the game, taking the loss to fall of 0-1 on the season  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

FIRST INNING 

- Catawba came out hot in Game two, looking to avenge their opening-game defeat. They were immediately different at the plate, with Tucker and Flynn getting aboard in the opening at-bats before Hales sent Tucker home with a single, putting Catawba ahead 1-0 

- Gallagher and Brendle would ground out in the next two at-bats, but Gallagher allowed Hales and Flynn to advance before Brendle sent Flynn home and moved Hales to third 

- A wild pitch from Abby Williams gave Hales an opportunity and she made no mistake, scoring from third to make it 3-0 to Catawba  

 - Baquie would walk the first three Francis Marion hitters before being replaced by Herring, who was able to contain the Patriots to just one run on a sacrifice fly as Catawba kept their lead, 3-1 

SECOND INNING 

- Tucker would add onto Catawba's lead with her second single of the game, sending King home from second to restore Catawba three-run lead, 4-1 

- A fielding error allowed Francis Marion to score a run and position another pair of runners on second and third, with a sac bunt bringing Smith home from third on the next play to cut the lead to 4-3 before the end of the inning  

THIRD INNING 

- After Catawba was shutout in the top of the third, Francis Marion tallied four runs on four hits, taking advantage of their first three batters loading the bases to take their first lead of the game, 7-4 

FOURTH INNING 

- Catawba answered back, with Balderson and Tucker able to get in position on third and second base respectively. A single from Hales sent Balderston in to make 5-7, as Hales herself would reach second on an error. This would prove vital for Catawba, as a single into center from Gallagher would send both of Tucker and Hales home to tie the game up, 7-7 

FIFTH INNING 

- A two-run shot into right-center from Madalyn White put Francis Marion back on top, 9-7  

SIXTH INNING 

- Brendle gave Catawba a lifeline in the sixth, singling to left field to bring Flynn home. However, Allie Burns would groundout for the third of the inning with Gallagher and Brendle both on-base, as Catawba trailed 9-8 

SEVENTH INNING 

- Catawba had a chance to tie the game up in the final frame, with King able to advance to third with two outs. Flynn and Tucker would walk, loading the bases and allowing Hales a huge opportunity to give Catawba the lead 

- Francis Marion would call for Poston to close the game, and she would do just that, with Hales only able to pop-up to shortstop for the third and final out of the game  

UP NEXT 

- Catawba is back in action on Sunday, March 3, welcoming Frostburg State to Whitley Field for a double-header. Gametimes are set for 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.