FLORENCE, S.C. - The Newberry College softball team dropped two games today in the conclusion of the Francis Marion Patriots Invitational. In the day's opening game, the scarlet and gray lost to Saint Leo University, 6-2, and followed with a loss to the host school FMU by a 4-2 margin.

Newberry 2, Saint Leo 6 - Box Score

In the day's first game, Newberry and Saint Leo were scoreless through three innings until the Lions manufactured a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Elysha Agen led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a Tatiana Casis double to leftfield. A wild pitch allowed Agen to score, which was followed by a Ashley Urbanik infield single scoring Casis from third to give the SLU the 2-0 lead.

The Lions added to their margin in the fifth and sixth with three runs followed by a single run in the sixth giving Saint Leo the 6-0 lead.

Newberry struck back in the top of the seventh inning with two runs, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback.

Taking the loss for Newberry was Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.), who pitched all seven innings allowing three earned runs on six hits, while striking out four batters.

Newberry 2, No. 4 Francis Marion 4

In the tournament's final game for Newberry, Francis Marion came away with a 4-2 victory as the No. 4 Patriots dropped Newberry to 16-5 on the year. Overall at the Patriots Invitational, Newberry went 1-4.

The scarlet and gray now have a seven day break before playing Montreat College at home on March 16 at 1 p.m.