Emmanuel, Francis Marion advance to 2024 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship round
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DUNCAN, S.C. – Top seed Francis Marion remained the undefeated team in the 2024 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship while Emmanuel came back to reach the final with a pair of elimination game wins on Saturday.
The 21st-ranked Patriots opened their semifinal contest with seven runs in the first inning against second seed North Greenville. Katie Smith and Lauren Smallwood each drove in two runs in the Francis Marion offensive outburst. Taylor Watford later hit a home run to left center while Alyssa Poston and Jenna Walling teamed up for the shutout in Francis Marion’s 8-0 win.
Fifth-seeded Emmanuel then came up with back-to-back wins, starting with an 8-1 victory over ninth seed Barton. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Alyssa Adams laced a home run to even the score in the bottom of the inning for Emmanuel. The Lions took the lead with a pair of runs in the fourth inning before scoring five runs in the sixth frame. Ellee Varner and Abby Rocco drove in two runs apiece in the sixth inning. Maddie Edwards made that standup as she allowed one run on four hits in the Emmanuel victory.
Emmanuel kept the momentum going in the next contest, scoring five runs in the third inning. Adams laced a two-run home run before the Lions tacked on three runs in the frame. North Greenville answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, however, as Lexis Wilkinson highlighted the frame with a two-run single. Emmanuel added a run in the sixth to take the contest 6-3 behind four and one-thirds shutout innings from Edwards.
Francis Marion will take on Emmanuel in the championship contest on Sunday, April 28. The Patriots will need only one win to win the championship while Emmanuel will need to defeat Francis Marion twice.
To see the updated bracket for the championship and to learn more, please visit
here.