Francis Marion goes 2-0 at PBC Softball Tournament

FLORENCE, SC - Freshman second baseman Ashley Jaramillo doubled home pinch runner Maria Goode in the sixth inning to lift seventh-seeded Francis Marion University to a 2-1 upset of second-seeded Georgia College & State University, Friday afternoon (April 17) at the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.

Earlier in the day, junior left-hander Michael Wolf and freshman righty Lauren Bubeck combined on a three-hitter as FMU blanked 10th-seeded Lander University 6-0 in an opening-round game.

With the two wins, Francis Marion improves to 30-17 and advances to winners’ bracket play on Saturday against third-seeded USC Aiken at 11 a.m. GCSU drops to 30-21 and falls into Saturday’s losers’ bracket, to play at 1:30 p.m.

Against GCSU, Wolf allowed only a first-inning home run to PBC Player of the Year Sherquita Bostick. Wolf allowed only five hits, walked no one, and struck out five to improve her pitching mark to 18-9.

Senior righty Mandy Chandler (25-12) took the loss, although she allowed only five hits and moved into sixth place on the all-time NCAA Division II strikeout list with 1,174.

FMU tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when senior catcher Kayla Ruede walked with the bases loaded to force in a run. However, Chandler retired Stevie Arrand on a ground out to strand three runners.

In the top of the sixth, Jessica Birchmeier walked to lead off the frame and Goode was inserted as a pinch runner. Chandler fanned Tamela Bell, but Goode advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jaramillo then doubled into the left field gap and the ball rolled all the way to the fence scoring Goode with ease.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wolf hit the leadoff batter on an 0-2 pitch, but retired the next two batters on strikeouts. Pinch hitter Haley Burnett reached on a two-out fielding error by Wolf to put runners on first and second with two outs. Wolf then induced Allison Schwimer to ground out to Jaramillo between first and second base to end the game.

Jaramillo was 2-for-4 at the plate to lead Francis Marion, while Lindsey Swanson and Bostick both had two hits apiece for the Lady Bobcats.

In the opening-round win over Lander, Wolf pitched six scoreless innings, allowing only two hits while striking out four. She did hit three Lady Bobcat batters in the first three innings. Bubeck pitched a scoreless seventh inning.

Freshman right-hander Hayley Leissner (8-22) took the loss despite setting a new season-single season strikeout mark for Lander with 183.

Lander left the bases loaded in the second and third innings and stranded two runners in the fourth.

Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Birchmeier led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Bell, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaramillo.

The Patriots plated two runs in the fifth on a two-run single up the middle by senior center fielder Lakyn Bendle. In the sixth, the advantage moved to 6-0 on an RBI double by Arrand and a two-run single by Shannan Tyson.

Jaramillo and senior designated player Laura Hauff both had two hits for FMU.

Carrie Hudson, Lindsey Sammons, and Daisy Stewart had the three hits for Lander.


2009 Peach Belt Softball Championship Schedule of Events

Friday, April 17, 2009
#9 Georgia Southwestern def. #8 UNC Pembroke 2-0 in 12 inn.
#7 Francis Marion def. #10 Lander 6-0
#5 Augusta State def. #4 Armstrong Atlantic State 2-1 in 9 innings
#3 USC Aiken def. #6 Columbus State 2-0
#7 Francis Marion def. #2 Georgia College & State 2-1
#1 North Georgia def. #9 Georgia Southwestern 9-0
#4 Armstrong Atlantic State def. #8 UNC Pembroke 12-4
#10 Lander def. #6 Columbus State 5-3

Saturday, April 18, 2009
Game 9: 11:00 AM #1 North Georgia vs. #5 Augusta State
Game 10: 11:00 AM #3 USC Aiken vs. #7 Francis Marion
Game 11: 1:30 PM #4 Armstrong Atlantic State vs. #9 Georgia Southwestern
Game 12: 1:30 PM #10 Lander vs. #2 Georgia College & State
Game 13: 4:00 PM Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner
Game 14: 4:00 PM Game 11 Winner vs. Game 10 Loser
Game 15: 4:00 PM Game 12 Winner vs. Game 9 Loser
Game 16: 6:30 PM Game 14 Winner vs. Game 15 Winner

Sunday, April 19, 2009
Game 17: 12:00 PM Game 16 Winner vs. Game 13 Loser
Game 18: 2:30 PM Game 13 Winner vs. Game 17 Winner
Game 19: 5:00 PM (If necessary)