Box Score (SC) | Box Score (RWU)

CLERMONT, Fla. – Franklin & Marshall's softball team went 1-1 in its opening day of action for the 2019 season in Florida. The Diplomats opened the day with a 5-4 win over Simpson before falling to Roger Williams by a 5-1 tally. 

Game 1: F&M 5, Simpson 4 – (7 Innings)

F&M was the first to strike in the day when Jamie Belfer took advantage of an error in the field to cross home plate off a Sam Martin hit in the first inning. Lexi Piccinich followed ground out to the shortstop to move Martin home and extend the lead to 2-0 at the end of the first.

Simpson got on the board in the second inning, scoring a run off two hits, but Ella Glenn responded in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice bunt to send Caitlyn Erdman home to increase the lead to 3-1.

The Storm tacked on three more runs in the fourth and fifth inning to even the contest at 4-4, but with two outs, Piccinich delivered the single homer to left field to give the Diplomats the 5-4 edge.

F&M's defense held strong in the seventh with a runner in scoring position and only one out when Erdman converted the double play from centerfield, launching a ball to the catcher to keep the tying run from scoring and ending the game. 

Piccinich and Erdman paced the offense with two hits apiece.

Sabrina Ryan (1-0) earned the win after pitching for seven innings and tallying four strikeouts.

Game 2: RWU 5, F&M 1 – (7 Innings)

Roger Williams was the first to get on the board, scoring one run in the second inning off three hits.

F&M looked to strike in the fourth with Piccinich advancing to third off the hit from Gabby Goodwin but were unable to send a player home.

The Diplomats broke through in the sixth when Erdman opened the inning with a single to centerfield. Aggressive base running helped Erdman to third while Abi Buell notched a single to right field to even the score at 1-1. 

The Hawks retaliated in the bottom of the sixth, first notching a two-RBI homer to take back the lead, and sealing their victory with two more runs after errors in the field placed the runners in scoring positions to take the game 5-1.

Piccinich and Glenn led the offense with two hits each while Buell tallied an RBI.

Emily Moll (0-1) took the loss after tossing for six innings with two strikeouts. 

Up Next

F&M returns to action tomorrow, taking on Northwestern (Minn.) at 9:00 a.m. and Mount Union at 11:15 a.m.