The Bell tolls and FMU splits with #12 Lenoir-Rhyne

FLORENCE, SC – Senior first baseman Tamela Bell hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 5-3 Francis Marion University win in game one, but 12th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College claimed a 4-1 victory in the second contest as the two squads split their non-conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon (April 11).

Francis Marion ends its regular season with a 28-17 record, while Lenoir-Rhyne now stands at 29-8. FMU will host the Peach Belt Conference Tournament next weekend at Freedom Florence, while Lenoir-Rhyne plays at Mars Hill College on Monday at 2 p.m.

Bell’s towering drive with two outs in the last inning gave FMU the game-one win after the Bears scored three times in the top of the seventh to tie the game.

FMU junior left-hander Michaela Wolf (16-9) had blanked the Bears’ offense on seven hits through the first six innings. However in the top of the seventh, a hit batter and two walks loaded the bases for Lenoir-Rhyne. Kat Rivers delivered an RBI single to right field to trim the margin to 3-1. FMU third baseman Kat Beauvais then recorded the second out by making a fully-extended diving catch of a foul pop up in front the Patriot dugout, but Brittney Furr followed with a line-drive single to center field that plated two runs and knotted the game at 3-3.

FMU had taken a 3-0 lead in the third inning on an RBI single by Wolf and a two-run single by Jessica Birchmeier. Both Wolf and Birchmeier finished game one 2-for-4 at the plate.

On the mound, Wolf struck out seven and walked just the two batters in the seventh. Francis Marion handed Lenoir-Rhyne freshman righty Dawon Millwood (13-2) just her second set-back of the season. She allowed 10 hits, while fanning six and walking one.

Furr compiled three hits in game one, while Bears’ catcher Sarah Atkins and Rivers both had two hits.

In between games of the twinbill, Francis Marion honored its 11 seniors, five of whom recorded hits on Saturday.

In game two, the Bears went up 2-0 by scoring twice in the second frame on an RBI single by Carlee Carpenter and a wild pitch. Lenoir-Rhyne added two unearned runs in the fifth inning, with both tallies coming across on Patriot errors. Carpenter’s 2-for-2 performance was the lone multi-hit showing in the second contest.

Looking to rally, Francis Marion placed runners on first and second with no outs in the sixth inning. Bell then ripped a line drive that was caught by Rivers, the Bears’ shortstop, and she quickly stepped on second base for a double play. In the seventh, FMU managed one run as senior Nicole Reuter scored on a botched double play attempt.

Lenoir-Rhyne freshman right-hander Lauren Harris (1-2) earned her first collegiate win. She allowed only six hits, the one unearned run, while striking out three and walking four.

FMU freshman Lauren Bubeck (9-7) took the loss, although only two of the four runs scored against her were earned. She also allowed just six hits in five innings.