WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall softball team started its 2023 season with a 3-2 extra-inning walk-off victory against Hamilton on Sunday morning. After winning the opening game of head coach Kaitlyn Cooper's F&M career, the Diplomats settled for a split as they were defeated by Endicott during the second game on Sunday.

Franklin & Marshall 3, Hamilton 2 (8 Inn.)

The Diplomats got a dominant pitching performance from first-year Ainsley McClure during the season opener as she went the full eight innings and struck out 11, while allowing just one earned run. The only runs she allowed came during the top of the second inning after the Diplomats appeared to have two outs in the inning, but a dropped foul ball gave that batter new life and she took advantage with a two-run home run.

Playing as the home team, Franklin & Marshall got on the board during its first at-bats of the season. Senior Devon Witt reached base on a walk to start the top of the first and promptly put herself into scoring position with a steal of second. A productive ground out from Jaden Spigner moved her to third before a two-out RBI double from senior Kat Gunther that gave F&M the early 1-0 edge.

Hamilton answered back with that two-run home run during the second inning and held that lead until the bottom of the fifth. The Diplomats did threaten in the second as three singles loaded the bases before Hamilton escaped that jam. Aggressive base running was able to finally tie things in the fifth as Witt again got things started with a walk. A sacrifice bunt from Spigner moved her up and Witt tried to take an unoccupied third base. Not only did she get to third, but the throw got away and allowed her to come all the way around from first on a ball that never left the infield.

The Continentals threatened to take the lead during the top of the seventh as they put the first two runners on base before McClure worked out of that jam with a strikeout and pair of groundouts. With the international tiebreak in effect, McClure struck out two and got a pop up to first to give the Diplomats a chance at a walk-off victory. Sami LaRosa started the eighth inning at second base for the Diplomats and advanced to third on a wild pitch. The Diplomats then went for the squeeze play with Witt at the plate and she got the bunt down, while LaRosa jarred the ball loose from the catcher on her slide for the game-winning run.

Endicott 10, Franklin & Marshall 1 (5 inn.)

After scoring first and winning the opening game of the year, the Diplomats were not able to keep a powerful Endicott offense in check during the second game on Sunday. The Gulls were up 7-0 after a quick start during the first two innings and crossed home plate at least during each of their four innings up to bat.

Endicott pounded out 10 hits during the win and was aided by four defensive miscues from the Diplomats. Franklin & Marshall's lone run of the game came in the top of the fifth when Alexa Klepper walked before a single from Spigner put runners on the corners with two outs. With runners on first and third, Klepper was able to perfectly execute a steal of home before Endicott ended the run-rule victory.

Softball will return to action Monday with games against Geneva (2 p.m.) and Ripon (4:30 p.m.) at the Auburndale Field.