Emporia elminates Patriots

HOUSTON — Despite having a base runner in every inning, Francis Marion University could not manage the big hit needed to drive in a run as the Patriots fell to sixth-ranked Emporia State University 1-0, on Friday in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball National Finals.

FMU ends its season with a 39-16 record, the third-highest win total in school history, and by making the program’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The game was also the first-ever televised game played a Patriot softball team.

“We finished fifth in our conference, were rated fifth in our region, and yet these girls still believed they could win,” FMU coach Stacey Vallee. “After two exciting weeks we are among the final six teams playing in Division II. It hurts right now, but in the future I hope these young ladies will cherish all that they accomplished over this season.”

The Hornets scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the second inning. Third baseman Miranda Campbell led off with an opposite field double to the right field fence. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a squeeze bunt down the first base line by Shelbe Hughes.

Both teams had only three hits apiece. Three FMU batters were hit by Emporia State starter Samantha Sheeley (30-7), including Patriot senior first baseman Monica Wofford. Wofford ends her career having been hit 56 times, the Division II career record. She also finishes second for all NCAA divisions, behind only Cheryl Wyrick (62) of Division I Liberty University. Francis Marion was also the beneficiary of one Hornet error. Those instances accounted for the seven FMU base runners.

Four times the Patriots advanced a runner to second base, including three times with just one out. However the Patriots could not come up with the clutch hit. For its three tournament games, Francis Marion batted 2-for-22 with runners in scoring position.

FMU sophomore lefty Michaela Wolf (29-13) allowed only the three hits, struck out five, and walked no one. Fifty of Wolf’s 74 pitches found the strike zone. She was bidding to become only the second Patriot hurler to win 30 games in a season, after setting six other FMU single-season pitching marks in 2008.

“Obviously we are disappointed, but I am so proud of this squad,” Vallee said. “We all wish we could have gotten that one hit to plate a run and kick-start the offense. The opportunities were there with a base runner every inning.  Our defense was solid again, and that along with Michaela’s pitching kept us in the game.

Sheeley fanned seven FMU batters and also walked no one.

Second baseman Allie Aleman, right fielder Stevie Arrand, and left fielder Jessica Birchmeier, the bottom three batters in the Patriot order, collected the team’s three singles.

For the second consecutive game, Patriot centerfielder Lakyn Bendle made a head-first diving catch in left center. Birchmeier also made a sliding catch of a shallow liner.

FMU loses three seniors off its roster: Wofford, Aleman, and right-handed pitcher Melanie Bisek.

The team will remain in Houston until Sunday with the squad working on a Division II Habitat for Humanity house today.