Patriots gain services of Stinger shortstop

Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of Asheboro, N.C., native and Florence-Darlington Technical College shortstop Jessica Hogan to the Patriot roster for the 2010 season.

This past spring, the 5-4 right-handed hitting infielder batted .407 with 32 runs scored, 13 doubles, and 18 runs batted in. She also stole a team-leading 23 bases, compiled a .470 on-base percentage and a .964 fielding percentage en route to earning NJCAA Region X first-team All-Conference and All-Tournament Team honors. She was also named her squad’s most valuable player after helping lead the Stingers to a 26-13 record.

Hogan played her freshman season at Peace College in Raleigh, N.C. She hit .317 with 32 runs scored, eight doubles, one home run, and 22 RBIs for a 27-17 Pacer squad.

She is a product of Southwestern Randolph High School, where she played for coach Steve Taylor.
“Coming from a junior college, Jessica will give us immediate experience at shortstop, something we just lost to graduation,” Vallee said. “She has also batted in the leadoff spot, a position we lost this past year as well, so if called upon she will be accustomed to it. She is a player who will bring consistency to the plate and in the field. We are happy she chose to stay in Florence to continue her softball and educational career.”

Hogan joins nine players who previously committed to the Patriots: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, S.C., catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., catcher-infielder Meghan Heiser of Sacramento, Calif., right-handed pitcher Cea Knox of Myrtle Beach, right-handed pitcher Rayna McClinton of Columbia, left-handed pitcher Murphy McConnell of Milton, Ga., utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral, Fla., and right-handed pitcher Brittany Scoggins of Boiling Springs, S.C.

Francis Marion finished the 2009 season with a 32-19 record, and narrowly missed earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.