Francis Marion takes second straight Conference Carolinas Softball Championship in dramatic fashion
CHAMPIONSHIP WEBSITE | BRACKET
DUNCAN, S.C. – Fifth seed Emmanuel forced a winner-take-all game, topping top seed Francis Marion on the final day of the 2024 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship. The final contest was tight the entire way as Katie Smith gave Francis Marion the 7-5 win with a walk-off home run.
The 21st-ranked Patriots took a 2-0 lead in the third inning of game one on back-to-back doubles from Taylor Watford and Peyton Gale.
Emmanuel got on the board in the sixth inning as Ellee Varner started the inning with a double and scored on a Lexi Jordan single. However, the Patriots left the runner on third.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh when Emmanuel erupted for six runs to take a 7-2 lead. Kinsley Goolsby gave the Lions a 3-2 lead with a two-run double before consecutive run scoring doubles from Aggie Bennett and Varner extended the lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Francis Marion fought back as Makayla Cuthbertson started the frame with a home run. The Patriots added two more runs, but Maddie Edwards got out of the inning to give Emmanuel the 7-5 win and force the winner-take-all contest.
In the winner-take-all contest, the Emmanuel offense stayed hot, plating three runs in the second inning, two on an Isabel Harrison double. Francis Marion responded with a run on doubles from Katie Smith and Anderson Thrower to pull within 3-1.
Consecutive singles from Harrison and Gabby Buffington stretched the Lion lead to 5-1 in the top of the third inning.
Francis Marion fought back in the fourth inning as Cuthbertson laced a three-run home run to right center that capped a four-run inning and evened the score at 5-5.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the seventh when Smith laced a two-run home run to left field, giving Francis Marion the 7-5 victory.
The win gives the Patriots their second straight Conference Carolinas title and third straight berth into the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
Francis Marion earns the automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The selection show will be on NCAA.com on Monday, May 6.
To see the updated bracket for the championship and to learn more, please visit
here.
2024 Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team
Alyssa Poston, Francis Marion
Katie Smith, Francis Marion
Madalyn White, Francis Marion
Makayla Cuthbertson, Francis Marion
Isabel Harrison, Emmanuel
Maddie Edwards, Emmanuel
Jaryn Gibson, Emmanuel
Emily Blackwell, North Grenville
Karley Green, North Greenville
Mary Lindsey Harris, Barton
Miranda Holmes, Barton
Cana Shrock, Mount Olive
Hannah Carey, Young Harris