CONWAY, S.C. — Coastal Carolina scored 2-1 and 7-4 victories over Francis Marion for a softball doubleheader sweep at Lady Chants Field on Thursday evening. CCU improves to 18-15 overall, while Francis Marion falls to 29-17.

After going hitless through the first three inning of game one, Coastal Carolina struck for three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jennifer Schmidt's two-out single to right-center plated Holly Lee to give the Lady Chants a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded, the Patriots got out of the inning without any further damage when Sarah Allain's line drive to leftfield was caught by Amber Gaines.

Coastal continued to hold the one run advantage into the seventh inning, but Laurie Niego led the inning off with a double down the leftfield line. One out later, Kayla Moor's double to almost the exact same spot tied the game.

After holding Francis Marion scoreless in the top of the eighth, Suzanne Kimbrell scored on a safety squeeze by Amanda DeGrendele for the game winner.

Stephanie Belden (7-4), the Big South Conference's pitcher of the week this past week, allowed just four hits and one run while walking one and striking out five for her third straight win. Heather Johnson (11-9) allowed just one earned run and five hits in taking the game one loss.

In the nightcap, Coastal responded to Francis Marion's run in the top of the first inning by scoring three in the first and one more in each of the second and third innings.

Lauren Yates (5-4) pitched the victory for Coastal, allowing three unearned runs, three hits and four walks in four innings. Belden picked up her first save of the season, giving up a pair of hits and a run while striking out five in the final three innings.

Janet Rice (5-4), who never recorded an out in the first inning, took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits.

Kelli Julg led Coastal Carolina at the plate in the nightcap, going 4-for-4, scoring three runs and stealing three bases. Jennifer Schmidt, who went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI in the opener, went 2-for-3 with a RBI in game two.

Francis Marion had four players in the opener with one hit each and five in game two with one hit apiece. Lindsey Williams connected for a solo homerun, her third of the season, in game two.

Coastal Carolina will travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Sunday for a meeting with Big South Conference rival Winthrop University at 2:00 p.m. CCU and Winthrop met in the title game of the 2001 Big South Conference Championship.