READING, Pa. - After dropping a low scoring battle in game one, the Franklin & Marshall Softball team took game two to split the doubleheader with Alvernia.
Game 1: Franklin & Marshall 1, Avernia 2
After going down 2-0 early, the Diplomats were unable to climb out of the hole, falling 2-1. The Golden Wolves scored in their first time up to bat on a two-out RBI single, giving them a 1-0 lead. In the following inning, Alvernia led off the frame with a single and a double in back-to-back at-bats to extend the advantage to 2-0.
F&M cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth, when
Catie Kozub scored from first on a throwing error by the pitcher. However, the Diplomats then stranded both the game-tying and go-ahead run to end the inning. In each of the final two stanzas, the Diplomats put the game-tying run on base, but were unable to convert as the Golden Wolves escaped with a one-run win.
Despite the loss,
Aliza Sheflin (3-5) recorded a season-high six strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs.
Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 6, Avernia 2
F&M salvaged the backend of the doubleheader with a 6-2 win, highlighted by a five-run top of the seventh. The Diplomats were the first to score in game two, as
Kate Clement led the top of the third off with a double before scoring on an error two at-bats later.
With F&M facing bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the sixth,
Ainsley McClure limited the Golden Wolves to just one run before recording back-to-back outs to get out of the inning.
The Diplomats took the lead right back in the top of the seventh, though, getting the inning started with runners on first and second with nobody out followed by a Clement RBI single.
Claire Sullivan then laid down a bunt single to knock in another run, putting the Diplomats up 3-1. After Sullivan stole second base,
Natalia Garza grounded into a fielder's choice, but reached base safely on a throwing error, which allowed two more runs to score.
Maddy Yeingst later flew out for a sacrifice fly to bring home Garza and give F&M a 6-1 advantage.
Alvernia did manage to get a run back and bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning, but McClure (7-7) recorded the final out to end the game. She picked up her second win in as many days after throwing her eighth complete game of the year, striking out a season-high seven batters and allowing just one earned run.
Clement batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a RBI on the game.
The Diplomats will return to conference play with a road doubleheader against Gettysburg on Tuesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
