GREENWOOD----The Francis Marion softball team won its first Peach Belt Conference games of the season Wednesday when the visiting Patriots defeated Lander, 9-0 and 8-3, in an afternoon doubleheader. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box).

FMU improves to 9-5 overall and 2-4 in the PBC, while Lander slips to 11-15-1, 1-7.

In the first game, FMU pounded out 14 hits en route to the victory. Jessica Johnson (5-2) went the complete seven innings to earn the victory, striking out three and walking two in the three-hit shutout. Lander's Ashlea Burdette was the losing pitcher, walking six and allowing nine runs (eight earned) in seven innings pitched.

For Lander, Heather Bishop went 1-for-3 with one triple, while Melissa Ryals and Lib Harris also got hits.

For Francis Marion, Tatjana Slawson (2-for-4, one run, three RBI) and Lakyn Bendle (2-for-4, one run, two RBI) both doubled. Monica Wofford went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI and Megan Pangburn went 2-for-3, three runs scored and one RBI.

In the second game, Serena Lim (4-3) earned the victory, striking out two and allowing three earned runs on six hits in the complete seven innings. Lander's Jenna Kellett (3-6) took the loss, striking out four, walking one and allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits in six innings pitched.

Allie Aleman led the Patriot attack with a two-run homer in the third inning. FMU scored three runs in the third and added five more in the seventh for an 8-0 lead. Lander rallied for three runs in the seventh.

Aleman went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Janine Allen went 2-for-3 with one double, one run scored and one RBI.

For Lander, Keri Davis went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Amber Yarborough, Ryals and Colleen Leggieri all went 1-for-3 with one run scored.