Four runs in the second inning and three in the third helped the 20th-ranked Augusta State Jaguars defeat the Francis Marion University Patriots, 7-1, on Wednesday, March 21, in a Peach Belt Conference softball matchup.

FMU’s freshman starting pitcher Katie Carnes had a difficult time with the Jaguars offense in the second frame.

FMU’s woes were only beginning when Augusta State sophomore first baseman Macy Terry delivered on an RBI double to right center field, bringing home junior third baseman Kaitlin Harris.

The biggest blow to FMU in the inning came from ASU senior shortstop Kacee Camp, who hit a devastating three-run triple down the left field line to make the score 4-0.

Augusta State’s second inning hitting was so effective that it forced FMU head coach Stacey Vallee to replace Carnes with sophomore and Bonneau, S.C., native Taylor Luff.

The third inning added more insult to injury for the Patriots, as the Jaguars put three more runs on the board on three hits. ­­Freshman second baseman Hannah Vaughn’s RBI single provided a key moment in the third

FMU didn’t help its cause by committing an error in both the second and third innings.

Down 7-0, the Patriots showed signs of life in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, the Patriots received back-to-back singles from sophomores Lindsey Brown and Sara Broderick.

Senior Destinea Sch-neider then drew a walk that would have loaded the bases, but Brown was caught trying to steal home to end the inning.

FMU would finally score in the seventh inning on an infield single from Schneider that brought home junior catcher/outfielder Olivia Ferguson, but the Patriots would not add another run to the board.

Katie Carnes (9-4) took the loss, allowing four runs, three of them earned.

Emily Headrick (14-2) picked up the win for ASU. Of the 64 pitches that Headrick threw, 41 of them were strikes.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Heather Sexton finished off the Patriots, picking up her third save of the season.

Though the Patriots lost by six runs, they were step-for-step with ASU in the hitting department. Both teams had eight hits, but FMU couldn’t deliver the clutch hits when it needed to.

Augusta State left nine runners on base, while FMU left eight.

The win improved Augusta State’s record to 27-7 (8-2 PBC record). Meanwhile, the Patriots dropped to a still solid record of 24-10 (4-4 in PBC play).

FMU returns home on April 5 for a doubleheader against PBC foe UNC Pembroke.