April 26, 2006

CARLISLE, PA - Shortstop Lauren Incorvaia (Fr., Manalapan, NJ/St. John Vianney) went four-for-eight with three runs scored and an RBI, but Dickinson College plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take game one 3-2 and rallied for nine runs in the final three innings to overcome an 11-3 Franklin & Marshall lead for a 12-11 victory in eight innings as the Dickinson Red Devils swept the Diplomats in a Centennial Conference doubleheader.

In game one, Dickinson (15-21, 4-8 Centennial Conference) opened the scoring with a run in the fourth inning Lisa Biddle doubled down to center field and came into score on an RBI double down the left field line by Megan Spears for a 1-0 lead.

Franklin & Marshall (5-30, 1-13 Centennial Conference) took the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Bonnie Crouthamel (So., Chatham, NJ/Chatham) singled to right field, Robyn Jones (Jr., Titusville, NJ/Pennington) walked and Krystin Alex (Fr., Melville, NY/St. Anthony) singled to left field to load the bases. Meredith Morgan (Fr., Phoenixville, PA/Owen J. Roberts) singled to centerfield to score Crouthamel and Samantha Basuk (Fr., New York, NY/Indian Hills) walked to force in a run for a 2-1 lead.

Dickinson countered in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs as Rachel Fleming laid down a bunt single and stole second base before scoring on a fielding error on a sacrifice bunt by Jess Burger to tie the game. The Red Devils went ahead again as Burger stole second base, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Neither team advanced a runner past second base the rest of the way as the Red Devils held on for the one run win.

Lauren Porter picked up the win for Dickinson going the distance with two runs allowed on nine hits, four walks and an error with five strikeouts, while Crouthamel took the loss for the Diplomats allowing three runs on five hits, three walks and an error with four strikeouts.

At the plate, Alex and Liz Iannaconi (So., Palisades Park, NJ/Dwight Englewood) led the way going two-for-four for the Diplomats, while Fleming was two-for-three with a run scored for the Red Devils.

In game two, Dickinson plated six runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to rally back from an 11-3 deficit to tie the game before plating a run in the bottom of the eighth for a 12-11 victory in extra innings.

F&M went ahead in the top of the first inning as Jessika Mancino (Fr., Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) singled to left field to lead off the game. Mancino advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third base before scoring on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Dana Johns (Sr., York, PA/Eastern York) for a 1-0 lead.

Dickinson took the lead in the bottom of the first inning on a hit and two errors for three runs before F&M scored five runs in the top of the third inning.

Ali Tyler (So., Ridgewood, NJ/Ridgewood) led off the third with a walk and Mancino singled down the left field line to put runners on first and second with no outs before the runners advanced to second and third on wild pitches. Johns grounded out to score Tyler and Crouthamel singled to left field to drive in Mancino to tie the game and drive starting pitcher Danielle Newcomer from the game. Incorvaia singled to left field and moved up on a passed ball to put runners on second and third. Jones reached on an error to allow Crouthamel to score and Alex singled to drive in Incorvaia for a 5-3 lead before Basuk singled to plate Jones for a 6-3 lead.

Franklin & Marshall tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth as Incorvaia walked, Jones reached on an error and Basuk singled to allow Incorvaia to score for a 7-3 lead before Iannaconi followed with a double to plate Jones for an 8-3 margin.

The lead grew to 11-3 in the top of the sixth as Johns walked and scored on an RBI double by Crouthamel, Incorvaia singled to drive in Crouthamel and Jones doubled to plate Incorvaia.

The Red Devils caught fire in the bottom of the sixth scoring six runs on three hits, four wild pitches, two hit batsmen and a passed ball to cut the Franklin & Marshall lead to 11-9.

Batting with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Spears walked and moved to third on an single to center field by Theresa Souza before Lauren Gallo walked to load the bases. Dickinson tied the game with a pair of walks as Fleming and Burger took ball four to force in runs to knot the game at 11-11 and force extra innings.

In the eighth inning, Karrie Brondell walked to lead off extra innings and moved to second on a fielding error on a ground ball by Kaitlyn McDonald. Spears followed with a single to load the bases before Souza singled to drive in Brondell with the winning run.

At the plate, Incorvaia finished two-for-four with three runs scored and an RBI, while Mancino was two-for-five with two runs scored, Bausk was three-for-five with an RBI and Crouthamel went two-for-five with two runs scored and two RBI.

For Dickinson, Alex Speace went two-for-four with a run scored and three RBI, while Souza and Spears were two-for-four with two runs scored and an RBI.

Lauren Porter earned the win going 5.2 innings allowing seven runs on 10 hits and two walks with five strikeouts in relief of Brondell.

For the Diplomats, Laura Kaesshaefer (So., Philadelphia, PA/William Penn Charter) took the loss allowing one run on two hits and a walk with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning, while Tyler went 6.2 innings allowing 11 runs on six hits and six walks with a strikeout.

Franklin & Marshall (5-30, 1-13 Centennial Conference) will conclude the season on April 27 at Swarthmore College in a Centennial Conference doubleheader. Game one is set for 3:30 p.m.