King, Francis Marion Fall in Southeast Regional Play
ANDERSON, S.C. - It was an unpleasant start to the 2022 NCAA Division II Softball Southeast Regional for Conference Carolinas programs Francis Marion and King as both suffered first round losses at the Anderson University Softball Complex on Thursday.
The two programs will meet for the fourth time this season in an elimination game on Friday, May 13 at 12:30 p.m. The winner will advance to face the Anderson/Lincoln Memorial loser at 3 p.m.
The eighth-seeded Patriots of Francis Marion opened tournament play against top-seeded and regional host Anderson and fell 8-0 in five innings. The Trojans scored a run in the first inning on a groundout and another on a sacrifice fly in the second. A six-run third inning for the home team blew the game open and the Patriots fall to D2CCA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Year Laken Maxwell who allowed just two baserunners to FMU in the contest. Katie Smith had a hit and a walk for the Patriots while Rachel Davis took the loss and Janecia Hemingway pitched in relief.
The day didn’t go much better for fourth-seeded King who fell to No. 5 Lincoln Memorial 5-3. The Railsplitters scored three runs in the top of the first inning to set the tone in the contest. LMU added an unearned run in the fourth before the Tornado finally broke through. A Camryn Haag sacrifice fly down the right field line plated two runs with the help of an error by the visitors. Samantha Helms followed with a two-out RBI single to make it a 4-3 game in the fourth. King had the tying run at second with none out in the fifth, but couldn’t get the run home and the Railsplitters scored again in the seventh for the final margin. Carly Turner led the King offense with a pair of hits and a run scored while Nikole Counts took the loss as she allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Marleigh Duncan tossed three innings in relief.
Due to inclement weather forecasted for the Anderson area on Friday, the games have been moved up two hours. The complete schedule is available below.
For more information on the regional, click here.
2022 NCAA Division II Southeast Region #1 Schedule
Thursday May 12
Game 1: #1 Anderson def. #8 Francis Marion, 8-0 (5) (
Box Score)
Game 2: #5 Lincoln Memorial def. #4 King, 5-3 (Box Score)
Friday May 13
Game 3: #1 Anderson vs. #5 Lincoln Memorial, 10 a.m.
Game 4: #8 Francis Marion vs. #4 King, 12:30 p.m.
Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 3 p.m.
Saturday May 14
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 12 p.m.
Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6 (If Winner of Game 5 Wins Game 6), 2:30 p.m.