Francis Marion scored an unearned run in the top of the first inning, which proved to be all it would need in the opening game of the twin-bill. One run in the sixth and another in the seventh were surplus for starter Sam Goff, who pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts, zero walks and five hits allowed.
Allie Aleman drove in two runs with a pair of doubles for FMU, who combined to get nine hits of which five were doubles. Sophomore Somer Bigham/Florence, SC pitched the complete game for CC, allowing two earned runs and no walks while striking out four.
Tatjana Slawson turned a lead-off single in the top of the fifth into the game-two winner when Janine Allen drove her home with a two-out single.
The Patriots surged ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning with the help of two Coker errors. CC answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single by sophomore Nicole Crider/Florence, SC.
Ashleigh Duffy came around to score in the second inning to give FMU a 3-2 advantage but the Cobras tied it up again in the third on Marie Mascio’s/
Ashley Altman/Lake City, SC drew a leadoff walk in Coker’s half of the fifth inning after the Patriots had regained the lead. However, she was picked off on a liner to the pitcher by Christan Morabito/Charlotte, NC for a double play. The last seven Cobra batters were retired in order and there would be no comeback.
Jessica Johnson went the distance for Francis Marion with four hits and two walks allowed while striking out six batters. Junior Amanda Shelton/Huntington Beach, CA also pitched a complete game, giving up 10 hits and two earned runs.
Morabito, Amy Shelley/Marion, SC, and Jessica Blackwell/Hartsville, SC all scored for the Cobras while Crider and Mascio picked up RBI’s. Betsy Bouknight went 2-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and a walk for FMU and Aleman rapped three singles and scored a run.