LANCASTER, Pa. - Scoring eight runs in both the first and second games, the Franklin & Marshall Softball team swept Washington College in its home doubleheader. It was the first sweep of the Shorewomen since 2019.
Game 1: Franklin & Marshall 8, WAC 3
Despite only posting five hits on the game, key errors in the field allowed the Diplomats to score eight runs and cruise to a win in the day's opening contest. After WAC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, F&M loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning before an error by the shortstop allowed a pair of runs to score, giving the Diplomats a 2-1 edge.
Claire Sullivan then lined a two-run single into center field to put F&M up 4-1.
In the following inning,
Madison Martin drilled a RBI double to extend the lead to four. Two frames later, with the Diplomats in front 5-2, another error allowed
Sophia Noriega to score prior to
Maddy Yeingst coming home on a rundown sequence.
Alexa Klepper added a final run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double before
Kayla Kilmer came in relief in the top of the seventh to close the game out.
Charlotte Dwyer (1-4) picked up her first win of the season after allowing just one earned run and striking out four batters.
Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 8, WAC 7
In a back-and-forth tilt, F&M overcame a three-run deficit and completed the doubleheader sweep with a 8-7 win. The Diplomats once again fell behind 1-0, but a Noriega solo home run in the bottom of the second quickly evened the score. In the same inning,
Megan Wiarda crushed a RBI double to give F&M a 2-1 lead.
With the Diplomats later in front 3-1 in the top of the fifth, the Shorewomen began to rally, beginning with a lead off triple. The run then scored on a sacrifice pop out, as WAC got to within one. Then, with a runner on second and two outs, a single up the middle tied the game. After back-to-back base hits to put the go-ahead run on third, a three-run home run gave the Shorewomen a 6-3 advantage.
However, the Diplomats answered in the bottom half of the inning, first loading the bases with one out before
Alexa Klepper sliced a two-run double into right field to make it 6-5. Two at-bats later,
Maddy Yeingst slammed a three-run home run over the left field wall, giving F&M the lead back.
Though WAC got a run back in the top of the sixth,
Kayla Kilmer slammed the door shut in the final stanza.
In the win, Kilmer (2-2) threw 2.1 innings in relief and struck out one batter. Across both games, Yeingst scored four times, knocked in three runs and walked three times.
The Diplomats will look to continue their momentum on the road, as they travel to Ursinus for a doubleheader on Thursday, April 18, beginning at 3 p.m.
