LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall softball team dropped a Centennial Conference doubleheader to Gettysburg on Tuesday afternoon. The Diplomats were downed 8-0 in the first game. Nevertheless, they fought back to tie the second game at four-all late before a pair of seventh inning home runs from the Bullets proved to be the difference in the 7-4 final.

Game 1: Gettysburg 8, Franklin & Marshall 0 (5 inn.)

During the opening game on Tuesday, the Bullets recorded 12 hits, but just two of those went for extra bases as a station-to-station approach worked well in the 8-0 run-rule victory. The Bullets scored one run during each of the first three innings before putting up multiple runs during the fourth and fifth frames. Those two extra base hits came during the second and third innings to drive in Gettysburg's runs early on.

The Bullets added to their lead in the fourth despite just one ball leaving the infield. Even when the ball did leave the dirt, F&M was able to get a force out at second on the outfield assist from Jensen Macaulay. Three more runs in the fifth put the run-rule in effect before Gettysburg's Paige Forry closed her complete game shutout having allowed just three hits and no walks. Kat Gunther, Francesca Testa, and Mccaulay had the base hits during game one, while Testa also swiped a base.

Game 2: Gettysburg 7, Franklin & Marshall 4

The Bullets were up 3-0 in the second game before the Diplomats' offense came alive during the bottom of the fourth. After getting two hits during both the second and third innings, F&M was finally able to bring those runners around. Alexa Klepper led off the fourth with a single and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. She then swiped third and came around to score when the throw went into the outfield. Testa then reached on an error, stole second, and scored on Macaulay's RBI single.

The Diplomats finished with 11 hits during the second game, but again left two runners stranded in the fifth. The hosts would finally get the game even in the sixth as Maddy Yeingst started the inning with a walk and scored an on RBI single from Devon Witt. Witt then stole second and the Diplomats had a pair of runners in scoring position after Jaden Spigner singled and advanced to second on the throw back to the infield. Gettysburg went back to its game one starter, but Hannah Matusiak was able to get a sacrifice bunt down successfully despite the Bullets' best efforts to cut the game tying run down at the plate.

Gettysburg escaped any further damage when it turned a double play to get out of the inning, including a tag at the plate. That set the table for a pair of home runs from the first and third batters to come to the plate in the seventh. Klepper reached on an infield single and stole second, but that was the only offense F&M could produce during the bottom half of its final at-bats. Klepper went 3-for-4 during the second game, with Macaulay and Witt also registering a pair of hits.

Up next

Softball will next travel to Albright for non-conference action this Thursday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader. The Diplomats wrap up the 2023 season at home on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Swarthmore. Those games will also be Senior Day for the seven members of the team's Class of 2023.