LANCASTER, Pa. - With interim head coach Ryan Spang taking over for his first year as head coach, the Franklin & Marshall softball team looks towards beginning the 2025 campaign. The Diplomats seek their first trip to the Centennial Conference Tournament since 2017, when the Diplomats earned the program's first Centennial Conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Diplomats retain most of last year's core following the departure of one senior in third baseman Maddy Yeingst. Seven first-year students add depth to the squad including four pitching options, two outfielders, and two infielders.

2024 Recap 

The Diplomats ended 2024 with a 15-25, 5-11 Centennial Conference record, picking up three series sweeps.

F&M began the year with 12 games at the Tucson Invitational Games, going 5-7 with wins over Mount Mary (Wisc.), Wisconsin-La Crosse, Sewanee, Saint Catherine, and Salve Regina. 

The Diplomats found in-conference success with a pair of home sweeps over Washington College and Haverford.The Diplomats earned 8-3 and 8-7 wins against Washington while defeating Haverford 8-0 and 10-6. F&M's other Centennial Conference victory came in a 9-3 win in the second game at McDaniel. The Diplomats' other sweep came when they hosted Delaware Valley in March, earning 5-4 and 4-0 wins. They earned one win against a team that appeared in the 2024 NCAA DIII Tournament with a 2-1 win over Moravian in the second game of the set. 

Players to Watch 

P - Ainsley McClure - Jr. 
P - Charlotte Dwyer- Sr. 
C - Claire Sullivan - Sr. 
2B - Alexa Klepper - Sr.
OF - Sophia Noreiga - So.

McClure spent the most time in the circle for F&M a season ago, totaling 22 appearances and 18 starts in 2024 with 111.1 innings pitched. Along the way, she posted a team-best 2.89 ERA that ranked fifth among qualifying Centennial Conference starters. She ended the year with an 8-6 record with nine complete games and one complete game shutout against Delaware Valley. McClure ranked fourth in the conference with 68 strikeouts, while allowing just three wild pitches, which was tied for the fourth fewest among qualifying pitchers. 

Charlotte Dwyer provided strong support as the team's go-to second-game starter. She delivered the conference's fifth-best ERA (2.91) across 57.2 innings of service. Among qualifying pitchers, she had the second-lowest opponent batting average (.209). Dwyer had one complete game in an 8-0 win against Haverford. 

Sullivan made 33 appearances with 31 starts last season as a catcher, first baseman, and DH, providing a consistent threat to get on-base and steal bases. She posted the team's second-best on-base percentage (.438) and recorded the second-most steals, successfully swiping on 9-of-11 chances. She also had the third-best batting average (.299) for the Diplomats. Her bunting was a key component to the offense, as she led the Centennial Conference with nine sacrifice hits. She recorded three multi-hit games, two games with multiple RBIs, and one game with two stolen bases.

Klepper appeared in 39 of 40 games last season with 38 starts, providing a strong extra-base threat last season. She tied with Sophia Noreiga for the team's best batting average (.333) while leading the team in hits (38), slugging percentage (.482), RBI (21), and doubles (11), with her 11 doubles tying for the fourth-most in the Centennial Conference. She was successful on all eight of her stolen base attempts. Klepper had nine multi-hit games including a 4-for-5 performance in the second-game victory over McDaniel. She also recorded five games with multiple RBIs and two games with two stolen bases. 

Noriega had an impressive first season at the collegiate level, as she was one of two first-year players to start in at least 30 games. She tied with Klepper for the team's best batting average (.333) while leading the team in OPS (.869) and on-base percentage (.440). She recorded six multi-hit games, two games with multiple RBIs, and a game with three walks. 

Centennial Conference Poll

Totaling 19 points in the coaches preseason poll, the Diplomats were selected to finish eighth in the Centennial Conference. Defending champions Gettysburg, who earned their sixth Centennial Conference title in 2024, lead the poll with 64 points, followed by 2023 champions Swarthmore with 53 points. Click here to view the full poll. 

The Road Ahead

With the season set to begin on March 9, F&M will first travel to Tucson, Ariz. to compete in the Tucson Invitational Games where they'll play 10 games from March 9-14.  The rest of its non-conference slate includes double-headers against Penn State Brandywine, Moravian, Lebanon Valley, Alvernia, Delaware Valley, York, and Marywood. Among their Centennial opponents, the Diplomats will take on Haverford, Muhlenberg, Gettysburg, and Dickinson at home. On the road, F&M will match up against Washington College, Ursinus, McDaniel, and Swarthmore. They'll face off against three teams that played last season's NCAA Division III Softball Tournament including Centennial Conference champions Gettysburg, Landmark Conference champions Moravian, and MAC Freedom champions Lebanon Valley. 

Overall, F&M's schedule includes 10 neutral site games in Arizona, 14 home games and 16 away games. 

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