FORT MYERS, Fla. – Franklin & Marshall's softball team split a pair of non-conference contests to open its spring break trip on Sunday. The Diplomats (1-3) started the day with a 6-0 loss to Kenyon before picking up their first win of the season in a 7-2 victory over Salem State.

Against Kenyon (9-1), F&M fell behind early when the Ladies crossed the plate in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher Kaitlin Zampino pitched well throughout, but the Diplomats' offense struggled to provide run support for the senior right-hander. 

In the bottom of the third, Kenyon struck again when Lindsey Susolik hit single to score two to put the Ladies ahead 3-0. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Kenyon broke the game open with three RBI singles.

A Charlotte Leblang RBI single scored Danielle Elizarraraz, Susolik added another RBI single, and Molly O'Conner's RBI single scored Chelsea Delaney as the Ladies took a 6-0 lead and went on to win by the same margin. 

Zampino (0-2) gave a solid performance but was charged with the loss, going six innings and allowing four earned runs. Malorie Sassaman paced the Diplomats with a 3-for-3 day while Megan Ryan and Caroline Abin each added a hit for F&M.

Elizarraraz, Delaney, Susolik, and O'Connor each recorded two hits for Kenyon.

In the nightcap against Salem State (1-5), the game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when F&M's Liz Middleton put down a bunt to score Rachel Laufer and give the Diplomats a 1-0 advantage. Then, Alicia Kukoda ripped a double to score Kelly Van O'Linda and give F&M a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Diplomats got on the board again when Laufer's RBI-single score Abin to give F&M a 3-0 advantage. After Caitlin Brust singled, Kukoda smacked a triple to score two and put the Diplomats up 5-0. Next, pinch hitter Zampino sent the ball over the fence for her first round-tripper of the season to break the game open and put F&M ahead 7-0.

The Vikings scored two in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough as the Diplomats went on to win 7-2.

F&M continues play in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic tomorrow when the Diplomats battle Mount Mary (1:00 p.m.) and St. Mary's (3:00 p.m.)