Francis Marion Claims Conference Carolinas Softball Championship Title
Bracket | Tournament Homepage
DUNCAN, S.C. – Third-seeded Francis Marion claimed the 2023 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship with a thrilling 10-4 victory over top-seeded King in the final on Monday, May 1, at Tyger River Park.
With the tournament title, Francis Marion claims its first-ever softball conference title in its NCAA Division II era. The tournament crown also garners Francis Marion an automatic bid to the 2023 NCAA Division II Softball Tournament.
Francis Marion led 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but two King runs in the bottom of the frame off a home run by Carly Turner forced the game into extra innings.
Neither team could find a run in the eighth inning, but a Reagan Glanz home run to start the top of the ninth for Francis Marion began a championship-clinching six-run stanza.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Rachel Davis (18-8) was stellar in the circle for Francis Marion, pitching nine innings and striking out six. She allowed just one earned run on 145 pitches.
Francis Marion (41-11) out-hit King, 15-8, in its win. Taylor Watford led Francis Marion in the win by going 3-for-5 with five RBIs and one run scored. Avery Bellai was also 3-for-5 at the dish with two runs scored.
Maggie Deel was 3-for-4 in the game for King.
The NCAA Division II Softball Championship Selection Show is set for 10 a.m. on Monday, May 8, on NCAA.com. The NCAA Division II Softball Championship regionals begin on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
To see the final bracket for the championship and to learn more, please visit
here.
2023 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship
All-Tournament Team
Tournament MVP: Rachel Davis, Francis Marion
Avery Bellai, Francis Marion
Taylor Watford, Francis Marion
Danielle Karacson, Francis Marion
Lauren Lawson, King
Savana Luper, King
Jessica Campbell, King
Miranda Holmes, Barton
Sloane Correa, Barton
Julie Gast, Lees-McRae
Jordyn Scott, Lees-McRae
Samantha Allred, UNC Pembroke
Ellee Varner, Emmanuel
Brooke Patterson, Erskine
Brianna McRae, North Greenville