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July 31, 2009
Iowa infielder to play at Francis Marion
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that infielder Michelle Phillips of Wuakee, Iowa, who played one season at Division I University of Northern Iowa, will be transferring from Indian Hills Community College-Ottumwa to FMU and will play for the Patriots this coming season.

July 23, 2009
Patriot softball players listed in final NCAA stats report
Six Francis Marion University players are listed in the final 2009 NCAA Division II softball statistical report, while the Patriot squad is ranked highly in several team categories.

July 2, 2009
SF standout returns to Florence, will play for FMU
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that former South Florence High School standout Brittany Cannon will be transferring from Santa Fe College to FMU and will play for the Patriots this coming season.

June 17, 2009
Patriots gain services of Stinger shortstop
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of Asheboro, N.C., native and Florence-Darlington Technical College shortstop Jessica Hogan to the Patriot roster for the 2010 season.

June 4, 2009
Patriots add Columbia softball pitcher
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of Columbia native and Spring Valley High School product Rayna McClinton to the Patriot roster for the 2010 season. A 5-7 right-handed pitcher, McClinton is transferring to FMU from Chipola College and will have two years of eligibility.

June 1, 2009
FMU softball team inks pair (Knox and Heiser)
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of junior college pitcher Cea Knox of Myrtle Beach and freshman catcher-infielder Meghan Heiser of Sacramento, Calif.

May 28, 2009
Bendle named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team
Francis Marion University senior centerfielder Lakyn Bendle has been selected to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine® Academic All-District III (College Division) women's softball team.

May 26, 2009
Wolf named to second All-Region softball squad
Francis Marion University junior left-handed softball pitcher Michaela Wolf has been named to a second All-Region squad, this time to the second-team Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Southeast Region team. She was selected in the utility player/pitcher spot.

May 19, 2009
Bendle earns FMU's Psychology Award
Senior Lakyn Bendle, a center fielder on the Patriot softball team, was the recipient of the 2009 Psychology Award at Francis Marion University's annual Academic Awards Day ceremony. Here she receives her award from Dr. John Hester, chairman of the psychology department.

May 12, 2009
Wolf named to Daktronics All-Region softball squad
Francis Marion University junior left-handed pitcher Michaela Wolf has been selected to the second-team Daktronics Inc. All-Southeast Region softball team.

May 6, 2009
Patriots lead PBC All-Academic Softball Team
Five members of the Francis Marion University softball team were among 19 players recently named to the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball All-Academic Team.

April 28, 2009
Four Patriots selected to All-PBC Softball Team
Four members of the Francis Marion University softball team were recently named to the 2009 Peach Belt Conference All-Conference Team. Senior designated player and utility player Laura Hauff was named to the first team, while junior left-handed pitcher Michaela Wolf, junior left fielder Jessica Birchmeier, and freshman right-handed pitcher Lauren Bubeck were selected to the second team.

April 19, 2009
Patriots knocked from PBC Tournament just shy of title game
Seventh-seeded Francis Marion University managed only five hits off junior right-hander Toni Flessate and fell to third-seeded and 18th-ranked USC Aiken 3-1, Sunday (April 19) in the final game of the losers’ bracket at the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.

April 19, 2009
2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament
Francis Marion University and the Freedom Florence Recreational Complex will serve as hosts for the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament, Friday through Sunday, April 17-19.

April 18, 2009
Patriots "stayin' alive" at PBC Softball Tournament; Rally for two BIG wins
Junior left-hander Michael Wolf pitched a pair of five-hit complete games and the Francis Marion University offense awoke from an eight-inning drought to capture two wins and stay alive at the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament on Saturday (April 18).

April 17, 2009
Jaramillo's RBI double beats GCSU 2-1 at PBC Tourney
Freshman second baseman Ashley Jaramillo doubled home pinch runner Maria Goode in the sixth inning to lift seventh-seeded Francis Marion University to a 2-1 upset of second-seeded Georgia College & State University, Friday afternoon (April 17) at the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.

April 17, 2009
FMU blanks Lander 6-0 in PBC Tournament
Junior left-hander Michael Wolf and freshman righty Lauren Bubeck combined on a three-hitter as seventh-seeded Francis Marion University blanked 10th-seeded Lander University 6-0, Friday afternoon (April 17) in an opening-round game of the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.

April 15, 2009
FMU hosts PBC Softball Tournament at Freedom Florence
For the second consecutive year, Francis Marion University will serve as host for the Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament. The 10-team, double-elimination event will take place Friday through Sunday (April 17-19) at the Freedom Florence Recreational Complex.

April 11, 2009
The Bell tolls and FMU splits with #12 Lenoir-Rhyne
Senior first baseman Tamela Bell hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 5-3 Francis Marion University win in game one, but 12th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College claimed a 4-1 victory in the second contest as the two squads split their non-conference softball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon (April 11).

April 10, 2009
Saturday is Senior Day at FMU
Between games of Saturday's doubleheader between Francis Marion and 12th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College, the Patriot softball program will honor and recognize the 11 seniors on this year's squad: Shawn Moore, Shannan Tyson, Stevie Arrand, Tamela Bell, Katie Campbell, Lakyn Bendle, Kayla Ruede, Jessie Alesi, Nicole Reuter, Megan Pangburg, and Laura Hauff.

April 10, 2009
Bell and Wolf, not Beowulf, lead Patriots to softball sweep
Senior first baseman Tamela Bell and junior southpaw Michaela Wolf combined for eight hits and three runs batted in to help lift Francis Marion University to a non-conference doubleheader sweep, 4-0 and 7-4, of St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Friday afternoon (April 10) in softball action.

April 7, 2009
Patriots fall to Pirates on softball diamond
Despite a 5-for-7 afternoon from junior left fielder Jessica Birchmeier, Francis Marion University dropped a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader to visiting Armstrong Atlantic State University on Tuesday afternoon (April 7). The Pirates won the opener 4-2 and captured a 6-3 win in the second contest.

April 4, 2009
Patriots loses tough DH to 3rd-ranked Saints
Despite two great pitching performances from lefty Michael Wolf and righty Lauren Bubeck, Francis Marion University lost a tough Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader to third-ranked North Georgia College & State University, Saturday afternoon (April 4). The Patriots lost the opener 4-2 in 10 innings and were one-hit in losing the second contest 1-0.

March 30, 2009
#19 Patriots split softball DH at CSU
Columbus State University escaped with a doubleheader split with 19th-ranked Francis Marion University in Peach Belt Conference softball action on Monday. CSU tagged the potential tying run out at the plate in the nightcap and hung on for a 6-5 win, after FMU took the opener 2-0 behind the strong pitching of junior southpaw Michaela Wolf.

March 28, 2009
Patriots fall to Bobcats in game one before rain falls
Pinch-runner Stephanie Lezcano scored the go-ahead run on a great slide at home plate avoiding the catcher’s tag and conference-leading Georgia College & State University went on to a 3-1 win over 19th-ranked Francis Marion University in game one of Saturday’s Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader. FMU freshman Ashley Jaramillo blooped an RBI single into shallow left field in the fifth frame to tie the second game at 3-3 before rain halted play in the bottom of the sixth inning.

March 28, 2009
Arrand's homer gives Patriots a softball split with 4-3 win
Senior right fielder Stevie Arrand lined a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning as 19th-ranked Francis Marion University claimed a rain-delayed 4-3 win over conference-leading Georgia College & State University, Sunday afternoon (March 29) and a split of the Peach Belt Conference twinbill that began on Saturday morning. The game was halted by rain on Saturday with the score tied at 3-3 and the Patriots coming to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

March 27, 2009
FMU vs GCSU Softball Times Changed
In an effort to avoid forecasted rain on Saturday (March 28), the Peach Belt Conference women's softball doubleheader between 19th-ranked Francis Marion University and Georgia College & State University has been moved up to a 10 a.m. start on the FMU Softball Field.

March 27, 2009
FMU softball hosts GCSU, baseball series delayed
The 19th-ranked Francis Marion University softball team will host Georgia College & State University for a key Peach Belt Conference doubleheader on Saturday (March 28), while the Patriot baseball series at North Georgia College & State University has been pushed back one day because of rain.

March 25, 2009
First innings doom #19 Patriots at USCA
The 19th-ranked Francis Marion University softball team gave up a combined seven runs in the first innings of Wednesday’s (March 25) Peach Belt Conference doubleheader and lost both games to USC Aiken 6-3 and 7-1 at J.H. Satcher Field.

March 22, 2009
Patriots and Royals trade off 4-2 softball decisions
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.

March 20, 2009
FMU to hold softball clinic on March 23
The nationally ranked Francis Marion University softball program will hold a clinic on Monday (March 23) for high school age players.

March 19, 2009
Arrand homer helps #9 FMU split with Wingate
A go-ahead two-run homer by senior outfielder Stevie Arrand helped ninth-ranked Francis Marion University split a non-conference doubleheader with Wingate University in NCAA Division II softball action Thursday afternoon. Wingate (15-8-1 overall) defeated Francis Marion (22-7 overall) 2-0 in the first game, but the Patriots won game two 4-3.

March 17, 2009
Wolf drives in six as Patriots sweep GSW
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.

March 13, 2009
Weather Postponements at FMU
The non-conference softball doubleheader between ninth-ranked Francis Marion University (19-6) and 18th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne College (17-2) set for Saturday at FMU has been postponed because of the imminent threat of precipitation. The men's and women’s tennis matches between the nationally ranked Francis Marion squads and Peach Belt Conference opponent Augusta State University has also been postponed.

March 11, 2009
#9 FMU and UNCP split PBC softball twinbill
Senior first baseman Tamela Bell collected three hits to lead a 14-hit Patriot attack as ninth-ranked Francis Marion University pounded out a 13-7 game-two win over UNC Pembroke on Wednesday evening (March 11) to salvage a split of their Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. UNCP took advantage of three FMU errors in the opener to claim a 3-2 victory.

March 9, 2009
#4 FMU Softball goes 4-2 at Patriot Invitational
The fourth-ranked Francis Marion University softball team posted a 4-2 mark at this past weekend’s annual Patriot Invitational Tournament at Freedom Florence.

March 4, 2009
Patriot Softball sweeps Lander 4-2 and 3-0
Freshman right-hander Lauren Bubeck tossed a six-hit shutout in game two allowing fifth-ranked Francis Marion University to sweep a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from Lander University, 4-2 and 3-0, Wednesday afternoon (March 4).

February 24, 2009
Jaramillo gains PBC weekly softball honor
Francis Marion University second baseman Ashley Jaramillo has been selected as the Peach Belt Conference women’s softball “Freshman of the Week,” for the week of Feb. 16-22.

February 22, 2009
Patriots lasso Brancos; Sweep twinbill 14-2 and 20-5
Fifth-ranked Francis Marion University pounded out 35 hits, led by senior shortstop Shannan Tyson’s 6-for-8 afternoon, to sweep a non-conference doubleheader from Fayetteville State University 14-2 and 20-5, Sunday (Feb. 22) in women’s softball action.

February 21, 2009
Patriots split softball twinbill with Mount Olive
After getting eight hits and scoring six runs in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the bats of fifth-ranked Francis Marion University fell nearly silent in game two as Mount Olive College claimed a 5-1 win and a split of the non-conference twinbill. FMU (10-1) won the opener 6-0 as junior left-hander Michaela Wolf (6-0) tossed a three-hitter.

February 19, 2009
Softball hosts Mt. Olive on Lil' Patriots Day
The unbeaten Francis Marion University softball team will celebrate Lil' Patriots Day on Saturday (Feb. 21) when the squad hosts Mount Olive College for a doubleheader at noon. Admission is free.

February 17, 2009
Patriot hurlers earn weekly PBC Softball honors
Francis Marion University junior southpaw Michaela Wolf and freshman right-hander Lauren Bubeck have been selected as the Peach Belt Conference women’s softball “Pitcher of the Week” and “Freshman of the Week” respectively, for the week of Feb. 9-15.

February 12, 2009
Wolf and Bubeck pitch Patriots to sweep of Limestone
Francis Marion University relied on good pitching as the fifth-ranked Patriots swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from Limestone College 2-1 and 3-0, Thursday afternoon (Feb. 12).

February 10, 2009
Unbeaten Patriots sweeps twinbill from Tusculum
Senior shortstop Shannan Tyson and junior third baseman Kat Beauvais each collected four hits and drove in three runs as fifth-ranked Francis Marion University swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from Tusculum College 5-0 and 9-1, Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 10).

February 7, 2009
#5 FMU softball sweeps three games at Early Bird Tournament
The fifth-ranked Francis Marion University softball team opened its season with three wins, including a 2-1 victory over 12th-ranked Kutztown University, Saturday (Feb. 7) at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken. FMU also defeated Erskine College 7-3 and Limestone College 14-2.

February 6, 2009
5th-ranked Patriots open softball season in Aiken
The fifth-ranked Francis Marion University women's softball team will open its 2009 season this weekend (Feb. 7-8) at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken. FMU will face 12th-ranked Kutztown University (10 a.m.), Erskine College (2 p.m.), and Limestone College (4 p.m.) on the opening day.

January 29, 2009
FMU ranked 5th in pre-season softball Top 25 poll
The Francis Marion University women's softball team is ranked fifth in the pre-season National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, the same spot where the Patriots ended the 2008 season.

January 22, 2009
Play Ball ?????
Tuesday's (Jan. 20) snow storm left the Francis Marion University campus, including the athletic fields, under a covering of soft white stuff. The sun returned on Wednesday and by Thursday most of the snow had disappeared. See the Photo Gallery on the opening webpage.

January 21, 2009
Patriots picked second in PBC softball preseason poll
Francis Marion University has been picked to finish second in the fight for the 2009 Peach Belt Conference softball crown, this according to the annual preseason coaches’ poll, released on Wednesday (Jan. 21).

January 15, 2009
FMU Softball Team announces early signees
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced the addition of one junior college transfer and the signing of five high school seniors during the recent early signing period: infielder Tristan Faile of Lancaster, S.C., catcher-outfielder Olivia Ferguson of Roanoke, Va., catcher-first baseman Annie Hegar of Jefferson, N.C., left-handed pitcher Murphy McConnell of Milton, Ga., utility player Jamie Ross of Cape Coral, Fla., and right-handed pitcher Brittany Scoggins of Boiling Springs, S.C.

October 15, 2008
Patriot Softball Team earns Academic Honors
The Francis Marion University women’s softball team is one of 57 NCAA Division II squads to earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic Team recognition for the 2008 season, while seven Patriot players were named NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes.

August 30, 2008
Three Freshmen to Join FMU Softball for 2009
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that three freshmen will join the Patriot program for the 2009 campaign: right-handed pitcher/first baseman Lauren Bubeck of Tequesta, Fla., catcher Kirby Ethridge of Lake City, S.C., and infielder/catcher Ashley Jaramillo of Canyon Country, Calif.

June 30, 2008
Patriot softball team ranked 5th in final national poll
The Francis Marion University women's softball team is ranked fifth in the final 2008 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, the highest ranking for the Patriot program since the school moved to NCAA affiliation in 1992. Francis Marion enjoyed its most successful season in 20 years posting a 39-16 record, the third-highest win total in team history.

June 17, 2008
FMU Student-Athletes earn NCAA scholarships
Three Francis Marion University student-athletes were recently awarded NCAA Division II Degree-Completion Scholarship Awards for the 2008-09 academic year: men’s tennis player James Maclachlan, volleyball player Jackie Phiel, and softball player Monica Wofford.

June 16, 2008
FMU Softball adds transfers Bell and Dean
Francis Marion University softball coach Stacey Vallee has announced that first baseman Tamela Bell of Covington, Ga., and right-handed pitcher Emily Dean of Edmonds, Wash., Fla., will transfer to FMU and play for the Patriots next spring.