LOCAL COLLEGES: NGU stuns FMU softball in tourney opener

DUNCAN , S.C.

Maddie Stone delivered a pair of RBI singles and threw out the potential tying run attempting to steal in the seventh inning to lift eighth-seeded North Greenville University to a 4-3 upset of second-ranked and top-seeded Francis Marion University on Friday in a first-round game at the 2025 Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.

The Patriots have their 22-game winning streak snapped and drop to 43-4.

FMU will drop into the losers bracket and will play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

against the Barton College/Southern Wesleyan University loser.

A win in that contest would have Francis Marion play against on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The double-elimination tournament is being played at Tyger River Park in Duncan.

Junior leftfielder Anderson Thrower and freshman designated player Rylie Gray led FMU at the plate with 3-for-3 performances.

Junior shortstop Madalyn White had a pair of hits and two runs batted in, while senior outfielder Emily Konz went 1-for-3 to extend her hitting streak to 11 games.

Conference Pitcher of the Year Alyssa Poston (24-2) was tagged with the loss.

The junior lefty allowed four runs (3 earned) on nine hits, while walking four and fanning seven.

A first-inning error on a sacrifice bunt led to a pair of North Greenville runs.

FMU answered back in the bottom of the frame when White walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Gray doubled to lead off the second inning and went to third on an infield single by Thrower.

After Thrower stole second base, White lined a two-out, two-run single back up the middle to give the Patriots a 3-2 advantage.

Stones run-scoring hits came with two outs in the fifth and with one-out in the seventh as NGU re-assumed the lead at 4-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Thrower led off with a bunt single up the third base line.

However, she was then thrown out trying to steal second base.

White followed with a double to left center field and moved to third on a fly out, but NGU right-hander Kylie Rast (14-4) retired Conference Player of the Year Paige Strickland on a lineout to end the game.

WOMEN'S TENNIS Patriots' season ends with 4-0 loss SUMTER Seventh-seeded Francis Marion University dropped a 4-0 decision to sixth-seeded Young Harris College on Friday in a first-round match of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Womens Tennis Tournament.

Francis Marion ends its season with an 8-9 record.

The Mountain Lions (9-14) advance to the quarterfinal round later on Friday at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter.

The match started on Thursday, but was suspended because of rain and resumed at 8 a.m.

on Friday.

Young Harris claimed the doubles point and a 1-0 lead by winning 6-1 at the No.

1 position and 7-5 at the No.

3 spot.

FMU freshman Valery Gomez retired due to an injury in the second set at No.

4 singles extending the Young Harris lead to 2-0.

The Mountain Lions then clinched the match with straight-set victories at the No.

5 and No.

2 positions.

FMU freshman Lara Lanno was up a set at No.1 singles when the match was stopped, while freshman Maia Warlies was leading in a third set at No.6 singles.

Patriot seniors Sophia Hansen and Kim Venghaus concluded their playing careers.

MEN'S TENNIS Patriots advance to semifinals SUMTER Junior Rodrigo Moura Ludgero captured a come-from-behind three-set win at No.

4 singles to clinch a 4-2 win for third-seeded Francis Marion University over seventh-seeded Young Harris College on Friday in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Mens Tennis Tournament.

Francis Marion improves to 12-6 and advances to face second-seeded Converse University in the semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m.

at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter.

Francis Marion took a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point.

Seniors Harri Lloyd-Evans and Austin Vienna were victorious 6-2 at the No.

2 position and senior Martin Barbera and freshman Miguel Maia captured their ninth straight win, a 6-3 decision at the top spot.

Barbera quickly expanded the advantage to 2-0 with a straight-sets 7-5, 6-1 win at No.

1 singles, his 51st career singles win.

The Mountain Lions took the No.5 singles contest in straight sets to draw within 2-1.

Lloyd-Evans upped the lead to 3-1 with a 7-5, 6-4 win at the No.

3 position.

Both Barbera and Lloyd-Evans were named to the All-Conference Team earlier this week.

Young Harris rallied with a three-set victory 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 at the No.

2 spot to close to 3-2, but Moura Ludgero followed with the clinching point by rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win.

ACTIVITIES CAMP Francis Marion University will hold its annual FMU Activities Camp on June 2-20.

The camp for boys and girls, ages 5-14, is divided into three weekly sessions and runs weekdays from 8 a.m.

until noon.

The cost is $70 per camper per session.

If you participated in a past year's camp, the sessions are reduced to $60 each.

To receive this discount, registration must be done by mail or in-person in the FMU athletics department.

The discount is not available through on-line registration at https://fmupatriots.com/registrations/ #!/camp/56.

Camp activities taught by FMU coaches include kickball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, basketball, and swimming (weather permitting).

Swimming is not taught, but life jackets are available.

Activities will vary from week to week, so as to introduce many different sports.

Campers will be divided into groups by ages, and will receive an Activities Camp T-shirt.

Refunds for cancellations will be given at the following rates: 4 weeks or more before the camp 100%; 2-to-4 weeks before the camp 50%; and less than two weeks before the camp 25%.

For more information, go to www.fmupatriots.com or contact camp director Mark Bluman at 843-661-1239 or [email protected] ..

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