DUNCAN, S.C. – The University of Mount Olive opened the third day of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship by advancing to the championship contest knocking off top seed Francis Marion University. The Patriots later setup a rematch with a win in the final contest of the day.

No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 1 Francis Marion, 1-0
Francis Marion threatened with runners on second and third, but Mount Olive pitcher Alex Steen got out of the jam, and produced a rally of their own in the fourth inning. Mount Olive loaded the bases with one out, but Francis Marion pitcher, Jenna Walling got the final two outs to end the frame.

Mount Olive broke through in the fifth as Hadley Womack started the frame with a single and scored on a double from Samantha Taylor. The Patriots threatened again in the sixth, but Steen again stranded a pair before retiring the side in the seventh to give Mount Olive the 1-0 victory.

Steen only allowed two hits in seven innings and struck out three to earn the win for the Trojans.

No. 3 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 6 Chowan, 13-10
In what was a back-and-forth affair, Southern Wesleyan started the contest with four runs in the first inning. Regan Fulcher lifted a solo home run before Chloe Smith ripped a three-run shot. Chowan answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to even the score.

Fulcher drove in two more with a single in the second for Southern Wesleyan and Chowan matched that with a run-scoring single from Hope Soria and bases loaded hit by pitch from Ava Mizell. The Warriors regained the lead in the fourth with three runs, two coming on a Fulcher single to take a 9-6 lead. The Chowan deficit grew to 10-6 before the Hawks plated a pair in the sixth to pull within 10-8.

Southern Wesleyan extended the lead to 13-8 with three runs in the sixth, two coming on an Abby Schreiner double. Those insurance runs were needed as the Hawks plated a pair in the seventh before Harley Hoffman recorded the final out to give Southern Wesleyan the 13-10 win.

Fulcher drove in five on three hits to lead the Warriors while Megan Ware scored three times and added three hits.

No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 3 Southern Wesleyan, 7-0
Mikela Gross gave Francis Marion the lead with a triple it the second inning before a Madalyn White squeeze bunt stretched the lead to 2-0. The Patriots extended the lead to 6-0 with four runs in the third inning, highlighted by a Maddy Golka two-run single. Golka tacked on another for Francis Marion with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead.

Francis Marion pitcher Alyssa Poston made that standup as she only allowed three hits and struck out seven in the 7-0 Patriot win.

Mount Olive will take on Francis Marion at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Trojans need one win to take the title while Francis Marion will need to defeat Mount Olive twice. If the Patriots win the opening game, the championship contest will take place at 2:30 p.m.
 

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2026 Conference Carolinas Softball Championship
Tyger River Park | Duncan, South Carolina

Play-in Round – Thursday, April 23
Game 1: No. 9 King def. No. 8 Belmont Abbey, 5-0 BOX SCORE
Game 2: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 10 Barton, 5-2 BOX SCORE
Game 3: No. 12 Converse def. No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 5-3 BOX SCORE
Game 4: No. 6 Chowan vs. No. 11 Erskine, 5-4 (F/8) BOX SCORE

First Round - Thursday, April 23
Game 5: No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 9 King, 11-5 BOX SCORE
Game 6: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 2 Young Harris, 15-3 BOX SCORE
Game 7: No. 12 Converse def. No. 4 North Greenville, 3-2 BOX SCORE
Game 8: No. 3 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 6 Chowan, 4-3 BOX SCORE

Second Round - Friday, April 24
Game 9: No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 12 Converse, 8-0 BOX SCORE
Game 10: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 3 Southern Wesleyan, 5-3 BOX SCORE
Game 11: No. 6 Chowan def. No. 9 King, 10-3 BOX SCORE
Game 12: No. 2 Young Harris def. No. 4 North Greenville, 3-2 BOX SCORE
Game 13: No. 6 Chowan def. No. 12 Converse, 7-2 BOX SCORE
Game 14: No. 3 Southern Wesleyan def. No. 2 Young Harris, 3-2 BOX SCORE

Semifinal Round - Saturday, April 25
Game 15: No. 7 Mount Olive def. No. 1 Francis Marion, 1-0 BOX SCORE
Game 16: No. 3 Southern Wesleyan vs. No. 6 Chowan, 13-10 BOX SCORE
Game 17: No. 1 Francis Marion def. No. 3 Southern Wesleyan, 7-0 BOX SCORE

Championship - Sunday, April 26
Game 18: No. 7 Mount Olive vs. No. 1 Francis Marion, 12:00 p.m. (Field 1)
Game 19: Winner Game 17 vs. Loser Game 18, 2:30 p.m. (Field 1; If Necessary)