MOUNT OLIVE – On a tough Senior Day at Nancy Chapman Cassell Field, the University of Mount Olive softball team was swept in a doubleheader by No. 4 Francis Marion, falling 4-0 and 9-2 in Conference Carolinas action.

The pair of losses drops UMO to 23-17 overall and 13-7 in league play, while the nationally ranked Patriots improve to 35-3 on the season and 15-1 in conference. Francis Marion has now won five straight in the series, with the teams scheduled to meet again next weekend in Florence, S.C.

In game 1, the Patriots jumped out early with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning and added insurance runs in the third and fifth to take a 4-0 lead. Despite several base runners late in the game, the Trojans were unable to break through offensively, leaving four runners stranded in the final two frames.

Freshman pitcher Linda Hodge (12-7) went the distance in the circle, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits while striking out four across 7.0 innings.

In game 2, Francis Marion once again surged ahead early, capitalizing on Mount Olive errors to build a 3-0 lead by the second inning. The Patriots extended their advantage to 5-0 before the Trojans responded in the fourth inning with RBI singles from freshmen Liz Thome and Emily Saw. However, FMU closed the door with four additional runs in the final two innings.

Junior Samantha Taylor went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead UMO at the plate. Freshman Hailey King (8-6) took the loss, surrendering nine runs (five earned) on 13 hits over 7.0 innings.

 Mount Olive hits the road on Tuesday, April 8, for a Conference Carolinas doubleheader against UNC Pembroke.