Armstrong Atlantic takes two softball games from Francis Marion

By: | SCNow
Published: April 08, 2009

FLORENCE — Junior first baseman Nicole Huddleston had four hits and drove in three runs to help Armstrong Atlantic State to a doubleheader sweep of Francis Marion, 4-2 and 6-3, on Tuesday.

The Pirates (21-19, 9-7 PBC) won the opener 4-2 and used a first-inning two-run homer by Huddleston to capture a 6-3 win in the second contest.

Francis Marion (25-16, 7-11) has dropped nine of its last 11 games and has lost five straight for the first time since 2004.

In game one, AASU scored once in the third inning on an RBI-single to left by Huddleston. The margin grew to 4-0 when the Pirates scored three unearned runs in the fourth. Erin Billingsley plated one run with an RBI bunt single, while Stephanie Mattes drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder and Casey Saunders pushed home the last run with a sacrifice fly.

Francis Marion answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth frame, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Junior left fielder Jessica Birchmeier stroked an RBI single down the right-field line and senior second baseman Laura Hauff had an infield RBI single. The Patriots left runners on first and third base in that inning and did not get another runner into scoring position over their final three at bats.

Freshman right-hander Emily Headrick (9-5) pitched the first five innings for AASU, while Courtney Alvarez earned her first save with two scoreless frames. Huddleston was 3-for-4 in the opener, while Sam Floyd and Billingsley each had two hits.

FMU junior southpaw Michaela Wolf (14-9) allowed nine hits, but only one earned run in her seven innings. She struck out six and walked no one. Birchmeier was 3-for-3 at the plate in game one.

Huddleston’s opposite field two-run shot in the top of the first of game two gave the Pirates a lead they did not relinquish. AASU freshman righty Britton Hammel-Cobb (2-6) scattered 10 hits in a complete-game effort.

Patriot freshman Lauren Bubeck (8-6) pitched the first four innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. Birchmeier had two more hits in the second game, while Wolf and Hauff each had two hits.

Mattes and Baillie Temples were both 2-for-3 for AASU in the second contest.

FMU hosts St. Andrews Presbyterian at 2 p.m Friday in a doubleheader.