Wolf drives in six as Patriots sweep GSW

AMERICUS - Junior Michaela Wolf drove in six runs and picked up one win on the mound as ninth-ranked Francis Marion University swept a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from Georgia Southwestern State University, Tuesday afternoon (Match 17).  FMU (21-6, 5-3) won the opener 9-1 in six innings and rallied for a 5-2 victory in game two.

In the opener, Francis Marion jumped to a quick 6-0 lead after two innings.  Junior outfielder Jessica Birchmeier hit a grand slam home run in the top of the second frame.  Wolf was hit by pitches each of her first two plate appearances and then hit a solo homer and a two-shot shot.

In addition to Birchmeier and Wolf, freshman second baseman Ashley Jaramillo also had two hits (both doubles) in game one.

Wolf (12-4) also got the win on mound as she allowed only five hits and one unearned run, while striking out four and walking no one.

Tiffany Milstid (0-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in three innings of work. Nichole Griffin led GSW at the plate with a 2-for-3 performance that included a double.

In the nightcap, GSW (8-25, 2-8 PBC) scored a pair of runs in the first inning to take their first lead of the afternoon 2-0. Back-to-back throwing errors put runners on second and third for GSW and  Heather Chambers cleared the bases with a single to center.  

The Lady 'Canes would hold that advantage until the fourth inning, when Francis Marion tied the game with a two-out RBI-double by a Jaramillo down the left field line and an RBI-single by Tamela Bell.

The Patriots would take the lead in the fifth when Wolf brought three runners in with a single to dead center that hit off the wall.

GSW out-hit FMU (8-5) in game two, but left 11 on base as opposed to only five by the Patriots.   

Freshman righty Lauren Bubeck (6-2) pitched a complete game for the win. She struck out five, walked one and did not allow an earned run.  Jessica Martin (2-7) took the loss for GSW, walking six while striking out two in the complete game effort.  

Chambers and Gabby Buck had multi-hit games for the Lady Hurricanes.  Buck, who has hit safely in nine consecutive games, finished 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.  Chambers went 2-for-4 and had the two RBI.

Francis Marion will play a doubleheader at Wingate University on Thursday (originally set for Wednesday) at 2 p.m.