FLORENCE, SC. (Feb. 25, 2024) - It was a doubleheader played between the same two teams and each game couldn't have been more different. After a brief, five-inning shutout loss, Georgian Court and Francis Marion played a high-scoring affair that saw the Lions erase a 10-run deficit, only to lose it in the seventh, 15-14. The Lions start the season 0-2 following the sweep.

Game 2 - Francis Marion 15, Georgian Court 14. 
How it Happened
• This was a wild one that saw 29 runs and 31 hits, along with six errors.
• Of the Lions 14 hits, five were for extra bases with five doubles. 
• FMU got out to a 10-0 lead, only to lose it in the seventh.
• Walks were an issue for the Lions who issued eight. They were able to draw five in game two after taking none in the first. 
• Francis Marion struck out nine batters and the Lions whiffed just two. 
• For the second straight game, Cheyenne Jackson got on base to lead off the top of the first. She was erased on a double-play though.
• Francis Marion kept their big bats going in game two as they put up nine runs in the bottom of the first.
• It all started with a passed ball to score a run, followed by an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to go up 3-0.
• With two outs, the Patriots got the next five batters on and scored six more runs. A two RBI triple from Madalyn White was the biggest hit of the inning.
• FMU made it 10-0 with a home run to lead off the second, but the Lions didn't roll over.
• They finally broke through in the third scoring four runs on three hits. Adriana Mungo started it with a two-RBI double to bring in Jackson and Isabella Molina. Jayda Jones followed with an RBI single to bring in Mungo and she came in to score on a sacrifice fly.
• Francis Marion got three of those runs back in the bottom half of the inning with two singles and an RBI fielder's choice for a 13-4 lead.
• Down nine, Georgian Court was in danger of getting run-ruled again, but they added three more in the fourth. Mungo picked up her third RBI with her second double. She then scored on another Jones RBI single. Jadalynn Rodriguez made it a three-run inning and a 13-7 game with an RBI single to score Jones.
• The Patriots threatened in the home half of the fifth, loading the bases with one out. But Janelle Blaszka kept them from scoring.
• Each team scored a run in the sixth. Kaitlyn Stufft doubled to score Jayda Jones, her third run of the game. 
• After going up six on a wild pitch, FMU had two runners in scoring position with two outs but a flyout ended the inning and ensured a seventh inning. 
• And it was a wild finish indeed. Georgian Court put the first three on without the ball leaving the infield. One run came in to score on Molina's walk. Two more than came in on a two-RBI double from Jackson.
• With the tying run at the plate, Francis Marion went back to game one starter Alyssa Poston in the circle.
• After striking out the first two batters, on an 0-2 pitch Stufft poked, a single to center to score two and moved to second on a throwing error from center.
• That brought up Alyssa Herrera who also got down in the count 0-2. She battled back and her flair to center fell between the shortstop and centerfielder allowing Stufft to score the tying run.
• The comeback was all for naught though as the first four batters for FMU in the bottom of the seventh all reached, the last of which was a walk-off single from Kendal Miller.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Kaitlyn Stufft collected three hits and four RBI with a run scored and a double.
• Adriana Mungo finished 3-5 with three RBI and three runs.
• Cheyenne Jackson reached base three times with two walks and a double. She drove in two and scored twice.
• Jayda Jones went 2-4 with two RBI and a two runs scored.
• Alyssa Herrera finished 2-5 with and RBI and a double.

For the Patriots
• Peyton Gale was 3-4 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored.
• Madalyn White finished 3-4 as well with a triple and a pair of RBI.
• Makayla Cuthbertson was 3-4 with three runs and two RBI.
• Alyssa Poston came on in relief and allowed a run on two hits and got the win. 

Game 1 - Francis Marion 10, Georgian Court 0 - 10 Innings
How It Happened
• Francis Marion scored 10 runs on just eight hits while GCU managed just two hits.
• FMU displayed some major power connecting for four doubles and three home runs. 
• Walks were an issue in the circle for the Lions as they gave up eight free passes.
• Georgian Court struck out six times without drawing a walk and left all three runners that reached on base.
• The game started with Cheyenne Jackson reaching via a hit-by-pitch. She stole second but was stranded there.
• FMU made the Lions pay. After GCU turned a double-play on the second batter of the inning, a walk and a home run made it 2-0 Patriots.
• The score stayed that way for two more innings. The Lions only got one runner on the next three innings, a Kaitlyn Stufft single.
• Francis Marion then put the game away in the fourth. They scored eight runs on five hits with two home runs. The inning started with a double then an inside-the-park home run scored them both.
• Two more doubles, an error and a two-run home run gave the Patriots eight in the inning and 10 for the game.
• The Lions got a runner on in the fifth, but FMU was able to end it early, 10-0.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Kaitlyn Stufft and Jadalynn Rodriguez each collected base hits.
• Rodriguez and Cheyenne Jackson each had a stolen base.
• Janelle Blaszka started and gave up four runs on five hits.

For the Patriots
• Alyssa Poston got the comeplete game shutout. She threw all five allowing just two singles while striking out six.
• Makayla Cuthbertson did damage from the No. 9 spot going 3-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI.
• Emily Konz had the inside the park homer along with a stolen base. 
• Lauren Smallwood went deep and drove in a pair. 

News and Notes
• Adriana Mungo took her 500th career at bat and Jayda Jones her 300th. 
• Georgian Court rallied from down 10-0 in game two to tie in the seventh.
• The last time Georgian Court started a season 0-2 was back in 2020. 
• That was also the last time GCU started a season with a doubleheader in a season who's beginning wasn't effected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Sunday marked the first two games of the Coach Andrew Zeger era. 

Up Next
• The busy spring break week continues for the Lions. They had another doubleheader set against nationally ranked Wingate Tuesday, Feb. 27 starting at 12 p.m.