LANCASTER, Pa. - In its final home doubleheader of the 2024 season, the Franklin & Marshall Softball team split its two games against Moravian. The Diplomats were run-ruled in game one prior to hanging on to a one-run win in game two.
Game 1: Franklin & Marshall 1, Moravian 11
In an end-to-end domination, the Greyhounds scored all 11 of their runs in the first three innings en route to a run rule victory. Moravian began the game with back-to-back hit batters before a three-run home run for the first runs of the game. Then, with a pair of runners in scoring position with still nobody out, a two-run single made it 5-0. The Greyhounds later scored another run in the inning on a wild pitch as they took a 6-0 lead by the frame's end.
In the following stanza, Moravian loaded the bases with nobody out after which a ground out, a sacrifice fly and an error knocked in three more runs. The Greyhounds capped off their scoring with a two-run double in the top of the third to extend the lead to 11-0.
One of F&M's two hits came from
Alexa Klepper, who laced a RBI double in the bottom of the fourth for the Diplomats' lone run of the game.
Charlotte Dwyer (2-6) was charged with the loss after allowing three earned runs without recording an out.
Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 2, Moravian 1
The Diplomats bounced back in the backend of the doubleheader, picking up a one-run win after jumping out to a 2-0 lead. After
Natalia Garza led off the bottom of the first with a walk, she advanced all the way to third base on Klepper's sacrifice bunt. Garza then came home in the following at-bat on a
Maddy Yeingst RBI single.
Two inning's later, Garza once again got into scoring position prior to being knocked in on another Yeingst RBI single.
Though Moravian was held to just four runners in scoring position through the game's first six innings, it briefly rallied in its last time up to bat, beginning with a two-out error. Then, a double off the center field wall along with a fielding error on the same play allowed a run to score and the game-tying run to reach third. However, F&M managed to hold on to the win, as Garza dove head first on a line drive for the game-ending out.
Ainsley McClure (8-7) recorded five strikeouts and did not allow an earned run in the complete game win.
The Diplomats will now close out their season with a road doubleheader against Swarthmore on Saturday, April 27 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
