CLERMONT, Fla. – Heading into the off day during its trip to Florida, the Franklin & Marshall softball team challenged itself with contests against No. 18 Rowan and Western New England on Wednesday afternoon. The Diplomats were leading the nationally-ranked Profs heading into the fifth inning of that contest before Rowan erupted for five runs in an eventual 7-3 victory. Western New England came away with a 9-1 victory (5 inn.) to close F&M's third day in the Sunshine State.

Rowan 7, Franklin & Marshall 3

Playing as the home team against Rowan, the Diplomats still managed to strike first as Kat Gunther's two-out single through the left side scored Devon Witt who drew a leadoff walk during the bottom of the first. Both offenses were held in check until the Diplomats added two more in the fourth. A single from Claire Sullivan and double from Gunther put a pair of runners in scoring position before RBIs from Megan Wiarda and Kaitlin Herrick set F&M's advantage at 3-0. The Diplomats would load the bases later that same inning, but a line drive right at the Rowan defense allowed them to double off the runner and escape further damage.

The Profs started their big fifth inning with a hit-by-pitch and single before those two runners were promptly bunted into scoring position. A sacrifice fly erased the shutout that F&M had going before a walk and two more singles ended up bringing in four more runs off of the crowded base paths. F&M was threatening and had the potential game-tying runs on base in the bottom half of that inning before Rowan got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts. The Profs went on to add two insurance tallies during the sixth inning for the eventual 7-3 victory.

Jaden Spigner went 3-for-4 against the nationally-ranked team, while Gunther added two more hits to go along with an RBI. Ainsley McClure got the start and went five innings, striking out five. She allowed just two hits and had a shutout going after four innings. Kayla Kilmer finished the final two innings, allowing just two hits during her time in the circle.

Western New England 9, Franklin & Marshall 1 (5 inn.)

Looking to bounce back in its second game of the day, F&M was out to an early 1-0 lead as Devon Witt worked a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Unfortunately for the Diplomats, Western New England also seemed to take advantage of every error from the opposition as they scored nine total runs from the second through fourth inning to put the run-rule in effect. The biggest blast was a grand slam from Alex Ferriouolo during the third.

Aliza Sheflin got the start and allowed just one hit and one earned run during her three innings in the circle as the Diplomats conceded just two earns runs throughout the entire contest. Sheflin struck out five before Kilmer and McClure worked double duty after first appearing in the circle against Rowan.

Following three straight days of doubleheaders to start the 2023 season, Franklin & Marshall will have Wednesday off before wrapping up its trip with two more games on both Thursday and Friday. The Diplomats return to action Thursday against Geneseo at 9 a.m., while also taking on Springfield immediately following that contest.