CLERMONT, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall softball team racked up another run-rule victory on Tuesday in Florida as the Diplomats posted an 11-2 win versus Massachussetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in their second game. That helped the Diplomats register another split as F&M battled nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State during the opening game. ECSU came into the week ranked sixth in the latest national NFCA Poll.

Game 1: #6 Eastern Connecticut State 19, Franklin & Marshall 0 (5 inn.)

Wanting to challenge themselves during this week, the Diplomats played No. 6 ECSU in the program's first matchup against a ranked team since the 2017 season. The nationally-ranked opposition certainly proved worthy of its lofty status with a barrage of runs over the first three innings, including a pair of first inning home runs.

F&M's best chance of getting onto the scoreboard came in the bottom of the first where the Diplomats recorded two of their three hits. Like she has done so often throughout her career, Jamie Belfer started things off with a single and promptly stole second base. Alexa Klepper later ripped a ball into left field, putting runners on the corners before the Warriors stranded those Diplomats.

Sami LaRosa recorded F&M's other hit in the opening game with a single into right field during the fifth inning. The Diplomats were able to post back-to-back shutdown innings on defense during the final two frames behind Kayla Kilmer who came on in relief during the third inning.

Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 11, MCLA 2 (5 inn.)

Shaking off the frustration from the opening game on Tuesday, the Diplomats posted a huge first inning of their own with five runs right out of the gates as they played this game as the visitors. Belfer smacked a triple and scored on Sam Martin's RBI single. It wouldn't take long for Martin to head home as Klepper roped an RBI double into right field. Kat Gunther's single to center field brought Klepper home before Gunther eventually scored on a wild pitch. Francesca Testa helped bring in the final run of the inning as her RBI groundout scored Jaden Spigner after she walked earlier in the inning.

Back-to-back singles from Martin and Klepper started things in the second inning as those runners moved into scoring position on a double steal. After those two set the table, Spigner's RBI single plated the first run of the second inning, while Klepper scampered home on a wild pitch. Kate Clement capped the scoring in the second inning as her sacrifice fly enabled Spigner to put another run on the scoreboard, giving F&M an 8-0 lead.

F&M made it three consecutive innings with a run during the third, with Belfer singling and getting to third on a wild pitch. An RBI single to short from Martin brought that run home. The Diplomats' final two runs came in the fifth inning as Claire Sullivan notched a two-run single, scoring Testa and Theresa Galban. Testa singled to start the inning before Galban worked a walk.

Nine different Diplomats had a hit in the win against MCLA, highlighted by Martin's 3-for-3 game with two runs and two RBI. Belfer and Klepper added two hits each as they both scored two runs as well. Peightyn Schwartz threw another complete game as only two MCLA runs in the bottom of the fourth prevented a shutout. Schwartz did not allow a hit until the third inning and scattered those six MCLA hits the rest of the game.

Up Next:

The Diplomats have an off day on Wednesday and will resume action on Thursday with games against Wisconsin-Stout (9:15 a.m.) and Bowdoin (1:45 p.m.) back in Clermont, Florida.