April 1, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Robyn Jones hits a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh to deliver Kathleen Clinchy to the plate for the game-winning run in a 4-3 Franklin & Marshall win over McDaniel to open Tuesday's double-header. Jess Feldman played the role of hero in the nightcap, bunting Meredith Morgan home to give the Diplomats (3-11, 2-2 CC) a 6-5 win over the Green Terror (5-11, 0-4 CC) in eight innings.

The pair of wins marks F&M's first-ever double-header sweep of McDaniel.

Jones double in the first game capped a come from behind victory for F&M. Midway through the fourth inning, the Diplomats trailed 3-1. F&M's third baseman drove in the first run of the game in the third with a long double down the leftfield line scoring Morgan to tie the game at 1-1. Kathleen Clinchy was thrown out on the play trying to score from first to end the inning.

McDaniel's Megan Elfert supplied two of the Terror runs with a two-RBI single into the right-center gap in the fourth.

The Diplomats knotted it at 3-3 with two runs on four hits and an error in the sixth and the game appeared destined for extra frames. McDaniel started, Christina Morely retired the first two F&M batters in the bottom of the seventh before Clinchy doubled into left-center. Jones brought her home from there.

Morely was saddled with the loss having allowed four runs, two earned on 11 hits. F&M starter Bonnie Crouthamel (1-8) picked up her first win of the year having allowed three runs, two earned, while striking out four batters.

Jones went 2-for-4 on the opener with a pair of doubles and RBIs. Clinchy was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Samantha Basuk drove in a run on a 1-for-3 effort.

Morgan's leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth of the second game became the game-winning run. Liz Iannaconi sacrificed Morgan to third setting up pinch hitter Jess Feldman with the winning run on third and an out on the board. Fledman laid down a bunt about seven feet from the plate. McDaniel pitcher Kate Phelan charged and tossed the ball into the glove of catcher Emily Trainor, who applied the tag after Morgan had slid in for the win.

The victory ended a see-saw battle that began with the Diplomats cracking open a 4-0 lead. Jones and Lauren Incorvaia each knocked in a pair in the first as F&M was content to play small ball. Jones added two more RBIs in the second inning with a two-out double down the leftfield line in the second.

McDaniel responded in the third with Kristina Skinner doubling to leftfield before the speedy Diana Rosemier beat out an infield single. Lauren Toomey immediately sent them both home on a triple before crossing herself on a wild pitch.

Sam Reigel tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth scoring from third with two outs on a shaky defensive play on F&M's part. Elfert, on first from a walk, started towards second. Incorvaia's throw had her dead-to-rights before Elfert pulled up. Reigel started for home, and Elfert would have been out, likely before the run crossed, but a dropped ball on the tag let the run score. F&M got out of the inning without any further damage.

The Diplomats quickly recaptured the lead in the bottom of the inning, 5-4, on Jones' fourth RBI double of the day.

Ali Tyler (1-1) came on in relief of Crouthamel in the fifth and eventually picked up her first win of the season, but not before Elfert singled to score Karyn Curley to knot the game at 5-5. Tyler worked out of a jam stranding two terror baserunners in the inning before retiring the side in order in both the seventh and eighth, allowing for Feldman's decisive bunt.

Jones went 2-for-4 with four RBIs in the nightcap. Barbara Sasso was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Jessika Mancio scored twice for F&M, while Morgan and Clinchy each picked up a pair of hits and scored a run.

The Diplomats return to action on Saturday for a pair against Ursinus.