Box Score (1) | Box Score (2) 

LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's softball team dropped both contests in its home opener against PSU-Brandywine on Thursday afternoon. F&M lost the game in a hard-fought 4-3 comeback before falling in the second by a 7-4 tally. 

The losses dropped the Diplomats to 6-8 on the year while the Nittany Lions improved to 5-11. 

Game 1: PSU-BW 4, F&M 3 – (7 Innings)

Brandywine came out strong in the opening inning, tallying two runs off three hits and two stolen bases.

F&M quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with Caitlyn Erdman tripling to the right side to get in scoring position. Lexi Piccinich followed with a single-RBI to keep the Diplomats within one.

The Lions once again threatened with runners on the corners off two stolen bases in the second inning while a two-RBI double gave Brandywine a 4-1 lead. 

The Diplomats looked to get on the board in the fourth with hits from Taylor Hudson and Robyn Seidman but were unable to bring the runners home. 

F&M's offense kept the pace in the fifth when Shannon Briggs notched a double down the leftfield line and reached third on a passed ball. Jamie Belfer recorded the RBI to bring the Diplomats within two. Piccinich recorded an RBI-double to send Erdman home decreasing the deficit to 4-3, but Brandywine held out for the win.

Piccinich and Erdman each recorded two hits to lead the offense while four other Diplomats tallied hits. 

Sabrina Ryan (3-2) took the loss, tossing for seven innings with three strikeouts. Brandywine's Alexandra Szpindor (1-6) garnered the win, throwing for seven with.

Game 2: PSU-BW 7, F&M 4 – (7 Innings) 

The Lions got off to a strong start in the second game, taking a 4-0 lead off four hits.

Belfer responded in the bottom of the first, leading off with a bunt. Aggressive base running got Belfer on third while Piccinich delivered the punch to get F&M on the board.

Brandywine kept the pressure, tallying three more runs over the next two innings off six hits to extend their lead to 7-1 after the third.

F&M's offense threated in the sixth with back-to-back hits from Megan Giesecke and Christine Miles with two outs on the board. The Diplomats kept pushing with Hannah Salvucci winning the walk to fill the bases. Caitlin McCarthy singled to right field to send Giesecke home and keep the inning alive. Briggs followed with a two-RBI single to bring the score to 7-4, but Brandywine's defense held strong to close out the game.

Eight Diplomats registered hits in the game with Ella Glenn and Briggs leading the way.

Emily Moll (3-5) registered the loss after throwing for three innings. Brandywine's Cara Fabiano (4-4) came up with the win while Szpindor earned her first save the season, coming in in the final inning. 

Up Next

The Diplomats kick off Centennial Conference (CC) action, hosting Washington on Saturday for a doubleheader slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Lancaster.