FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall softball team closed its week in Florida with one more win as the Diplomats claimed a 7-2 victory over Lake Forest on Saturday morning. With that victory, followed by a loss to Kalamazoo, Franklin & Marshall finishes its week in the Sunshine State with three victories.

The home runs were certainly flying on the final day as the Diplomats blasted four on the day, including two by Kat Gunther during the win versus Lake Forest.

Franklin & Marshall 7, Lake Forest 2

Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth during Saturday's first game, F&M's offense exploded for three runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth for the eventual 7-2 win. Lake Forest started the game with a leadoff home run, but the Diplomats answered that blast in the bottom of the second as Kat Gunther launched a home home run over the left field wall. Lake Forest took its final lead of the game during the top of the third via an unearned run.

Franklin & Marshall blasted two more home runs during the fourth inning as Kayla Kilmer and Gunther went back-to-back to start that fame. An RBI groundout from Claire Sullivan set the score at 4-2 heading into the final three innings. Gunther continued to be a thorn in the Lake Forest side during the sixth, drawing a leadoff walk. Despite not have the chance to produce runs with her bat, she was still able to score her third run of the morning on a sacrifice fly from Alexa Klepper. The Diplomats were later able to capitalize on two more defensive miscues during back-to-back plays in the 7-2 final.

Aliza Sheflin picked up the win in the circle as she went the distance while allowing just one earned run on four hits. The F&M sophomore struck out eight batters during her seven innings of work. Gunther drove in two and scored three more during her multi-home run game as both she and Sullivan finished the game with multiple hits.

Kalamazoo 8, Franklin & Marshall 3

The long ball continued to aid the Diplomats' offense during the final game of the 10-game Florida stretch as Jaden Spigner blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence during the sixth inning against Kalamazoo.

Despite the late F&M power surge, Kalamazoo was out to the early lead as it scored seven runs over the first four innings to take a 7-1 lead. The Diplomats' scored their first run against Kalamazoo when Francesca Testa singled to start the fourth and promptly stole second before scoring on a Maddy Yeingst single back through the middle.

Yeingst later scored a run of her own during the sixth inning when she reached on a infield single and crossed home plate on a two-out triple from Claire Sullivan. Yeingst and Devon Witt each finished the final game of the trip with two hits each.

Softball will now return to the Keystone State where two more non-conference doubleheaders await before the start of Centennial Conference play. The first of those two afternoon affairs will be Thursday, March 23 at Cabrini. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. in Radnor.