PEMBROKE – Visiting Francis Marion notched the only run of the game in the sixth inning after Kristie Hanewinckel crossed home plate on Tristan Faile's double to left center field to claim the 1-0 shutout victory in the first game of the Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against the UNCP softball team on Thursday afternoon.

The Lady Braves (20-32, 5-16 PBC) suffered their fifth-straight conference loss, while Francis Marion (25-24, 9-12) earned a berth to the conference tournament with the game one win. Both squads each garnered two hits apiece as the Lady Braves grabbed a hit from sophomore Megan Hillard and freshman Caitlin Steel. 

Junior Natalie Klemann (7-12) finished the complete game with two strikeouts and one walk, as well as the earned run on one hit. The Patriots' Taylor Luff (14-13) clinched the win as she struck out six of the 24 batters faced with two hits allowed. Luff saw only three batters in all but two innings, and faced a maximum of four batters in the second and fifth innings.

Senior Kellie Van Dyke also reached base on a walk in the fifth inning, while Hillard's single to right field came in the third and Steel's single to right field was registered in the seventh. The Patriots saw runners on base in five of the seven innings, but only managed one run for the victory.

To watch the full game click HERE.