LANCASTER, PA - Pitcher Laura Kaesshaefer (Fr., Philadelphia, PA/Penn Charter) went six innings allowing one run on five hits with two strikeouts and leftfielder Meghan Baker (Fr., Glenville, PA/South Western) blasted a two-run homer as the Diplomats defeated Swarthmore College 4-1 in game two to split a Centennial Conference softball doubleheader at Baker Campus.

The Diplomats jumped on the board in the second inning as Baker was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on an outfield error for a 1-0 lead.

Swarthmore (10-22, 4-7 Centennial Conference) tied the game in the top of the third inning as Mary Blair singled and stole second base before Danielle Miller lined a single to drive in Blair.

Franklin & Marshall retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning off Swarthmore reliever Emily Walz as Laura DePalma (Sr., Toms River, NJ/Toms River) singled and moved to third base on an outfield error. Kathleen Clinchy (Fr., Katonah, NY/Somers) roped a single to drive in DePalma before Baker took Walz's offering over the left centerfield fence for a 4-1 lead.

Kaesshaefer handled the Garnet through the sixth allowing two base runners over the next three innings to hand the ball to reliever Bonnie Crouthamel (Fr., Chatham, NJ/Chatham) in the top of the seventh inning.

Crouthamel mowed down Swarthmore in the seventh allowing one single while recording a strikeout, a pop-up to shortstop and a fly-out to centerfield for a her first career save to preserve a 4-1 win.

Baker led the way for the Diplomats in the game going one-for-two with two runs scored and two RBI, while Clinchy was one-for-three with a run and an RBI.

Walz took the loss for Swarthmore going four innings allowing three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

In game one, the Garnet rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning to outlast Franklin & Marshall 9-6.

The Diplomats opened the scoring as Dana Johns (Jr., York, PA/Eastern York) singled and stole second base before Crouthamel walked. The runners stole third and second base, respectively, to move into scoring position as DePalma slammed an RBI double to the left centerfield fence to drive in both runners for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Swarthmore responded with four runs in the second inning, capped by a three run homer by Valerie Marone, to take a 4-2 lead, but the Diplomats tacked on two runs in the bottom of the inning for a 4-4 tie.

Marone broke the tie in the third inning lining a two run single to put the Garnet in front 6-4 before Kelly Slano singled to plate Marone for a 7-4 lead.

The Diplomats put pressure on Swarthmore in the sixth as Myrhia Brewer (Fr., Newton, MA/Rivers School), Crouthamel and DePalma walked to load the bases with two outs before Morgan Marks (So., Furlong, PA/CB East) singled to drive in two runs to slice the Garnet lead to 7-6.

However, Mary Mintel scored on an error and Marone lofted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in a run as the Garnet went in front 9-6 as Swarthmore held on for the win.

Amy DiBiase earned the win for Swarthmore going six innings allowing four runs on six hits and eight walks with four strikeouts in relief of starter Emily Remus. Ali Tyler (Fr., Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) took the loss for Franklin & Marshall going five innings in relief of starter Jonelle Coletta (Sr., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Point Pleasant Beach) allowing five runs on sixth hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.

Franklin & Marshall (5-25, 3-11 Centennial Conference) will return to action on April 24 at York College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.