Patriots and Royals trade off 4-2 softball decisions

CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Freshman Ashley Jaramillo hit a first-inning three-run homer and senior Kayla Ruede added a solo shot to lead 17th-ranked Francis Marion University to a 4-2 game-one win over Queens University of Charlotte on Sunday afternoon (March 22), but the Royals returned the favor with a 4-2 victory in the second contest.

Francis Marion is now 23-8 overall and will play a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at USC Aiken on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

FMU pitchers combined to hold Queens to a combined 10 hits on the day.

In game one, Jaramillo's shot gave the Patriots an early 3-0 lead.  In the bottom of the first frame, Queens scored once on an RBI-single by Megan Campbell.

Queens' starter Chantel Dodge (8-9) gave up just one hit to the Patriots in the next three innings, while the Royals scored a second run on a solo homer by Kari Kmetic in the third inning.

In the fifth frame, Ruede pounded her four-bagger to account for the 4-2 final score.  The senior catcher was the lone Patriot with multiple hits (2-for-3) in the opener.

Queens had an opportunity to rally in the bottom of the fifth, but stranded three batters on base.

Francis Marion junior lefty Michaela Wolf (13-5) got the win with a complete-game effort while striking out eight and scattering five hits.

Dodge's first career home run, a first-inning grand slam, gave Queens (13-14) the game-two win.

The Patriots rallied with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on run-scoring hits by Shannan Tyson and Stevie Arrand.

FMU freshman right-hander Lauren Bubeck (7-3) gave up five hits and struck out two.  Senior Lakyn Bendle, Jaramillo, and Arrand all had two hits apiece for Francis Marion in the second contest.