Diplomats Mercy-Rule Berks

READING, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall invoked the mercy-rule in both games against Penn State-Berks Thursday. The Diplomats won the first game 10-2 in five innings and the nightcap 16-2 in five innings. F&M improved to 13-5 while the Nittany Lions fell to 3-8.

The Diplomats jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings in the first game. Samantha Denoville plated the Diplomats first run with a RBI single. Danielle Murphy doubled in the second to give F&M a 3-0 lead before Malorie Sassaman's triple made it 4-0 after two.

Julie Jefferson's sacrifice fly scored Murphy in the fourth before Denoville tripled to make it 6-0. Liz Chudzik belted a three run home run to right center to give the Diplomats a 9-0 lead. Denoville gave F&M its final run with a fielder's choice in the fifth.

Nicole Casey went the distance for the Diplomats striking out 12 and scattering four hits. Casey improved to 6-3.

F&M knocked in 10 runs in the fourth inning to take command in the second game. Jefferson got things going with a RBI single to make it 3-0. Casey made it 5-0 with single that plated Denoville and Jefferson. Megan Pauley cleared the bases with a triple later in the inning before Murphy's double plated Pauley. Sassaman then scored Murphy with a triple and Jefferson cracked a two run home run to end the scoring for F&M.

The scoring continued in the fifth as the Diplomats added four more runs. Karalynne Clark doubled to score a run, Murphy's double plated two and Ariel Givner stroked a single to center to score the Diplomats final run.

Allie McQuaide remained a perfect 4-0 going all five innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

The Diplomats open their home and Centennial Conference schedule Saturday in double-header against Washington at 1 p.m.

Score by Innings               R  H  E

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Franklin & Marshall. 130 51 - 10 15  0

Penn State Berks.... 000 20 -  2  4  2

Win - N Casey. Loss - Tenley, L. Save - None. WP - Tenley, L. PB - Hicks, B.

Franklin & Marshall. 002 (10)4 - 16 17  2 Penn State Berks.... 001 0   1 -  2  8  2


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