FLORENCE, S.C. – Queens University of Charlotte (14-13) fought valiantly but were unable to breakthrough against Francis Marion University (21-7) as they fell by finals of 3-1 and 10-3 on Tuesday, March 14 at FMU Softball Field.

Game One: Francis Marion 3, Queens 1

After a fairly quiet opening frame, Francis Marion was able to find some offensive help due in large part to "Mother Nature." With a runner on first base, FMU's Taylor Johnson skied a shot to deep right-centerfield that was aided over the wall by a stiff breeze blowing out of FMU Softball Stadium.

The Royals attempted to respond immediately as Kelly Winter smacked a leadoff double to the right-centerfield gap to open in the third inning. Winter then advanced to third base on a passed ball, but that was as far as she were to advance as the Patriots starting pitcher Sydney Holland kept QU at bay.

The game then moved rapidly along until the fifth inning when Francis Marion was able to grind out their third run. Shania Dominque doubled in Briana Barzola on a two-out hit to the left-centerfield gap. The run only came to pass due to a Queens miscue during Barzola's at bat earlier in the frame.

Queens finally found a chink in the armor of FMU's Sydney Holland in the top of the sixth inning. It was then that sophomore second baseman Sydney Ditto smashed a shot to straightaway centerfield.

The Royals nearly added another in the same frame when junior catcher Abby Lathan reached scoring position after a two-bag error and a stolen third base, but Holland was able to limit the damage and escaped with the 3-1 lead.

That was as close as Queens would get as Holland worked around an error in the seventh inning to preserve the FMU victory.

Game Two: Francis Marion 10, Queens 3

After stranding a runner in the first inning, Queens went right back to work as freshman right fielder Alyssa Strickler led the second frame off with a double to left-centerfield. With two outs, consecutive errors on the same play by Francis Marion enabled Strickler to scamper home, and give the Royals an early advantage.

Queens seemed poised to carry that lead into the third inning after earning two quick outs to begin the bottom of the second frame. Then, in back-to-back-to-back at bats, Sam Chiudina walked, Jennie Polak was hit by a pitch and Mikala Barnhart drove them both in on a triple to put FMU up 2-1.

As the game moved to the fourth inning, both teams traded the lead back-and-forth as each scored two runs in their respective half inning. Queens' pair of runs came when starting pitcher Evie Scott smacked a two-RBI double to right field which plated both Kelly Winter and Elaina Frantellizzi. The Patriots' two runs came courtesy of a miscue and an RBI groundout from Barnhart.

Unfortunately, that was as close as Queens would get the rest of the way as Francis Marion exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to put the game away.

Up Next

The Royals return home to Park Road Park this upcoming Thursday as they host Lander University. Game times are set for 1 and 3 p.m.