LANCASTER, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall softball team (7-14, 2-4 Centennial) suffered a pair of 6-3 defeats in Tuesday's Centennial Conference doubleheader against Muhlenberg, as the Mules made up a 3-0 deficit in each contest.

Game One

The Diplomats posted three runs in the third inning before Muhlenberg tied things up in the fifth inning and later claimed the lead in the seventh with three runs for a 6-3 victory.

Madison Martin was 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Nora Sidorski went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Alexa Klepper had two hits, including a double, while Sophia Noriega drew two walks. Ainsley McClure pitched the first six frames and allowed three earned runs, seven hits, and one walk with four strikeouts. 

After stranding three runners through the first two innings, the Diplomats struck for three runs in the bottom of the third. Gabby Mundy and Noriega walked on with two outs, while Grace Header loaded the bases by reaching safely on a dropped third strike. Sidorski took advantage of this by driving in two runs with a double down the right-field line, while Martin scored one more run on a single.

Muhlenberg closed the gap with two runs in the top of the fourth, stringing together four hits with one out before McClure stranded the tying run at third base with a lineout and strikeout. The Mules tied things at 3-3 up in the top of the fifth via a leadoff triple and sacrifice bunt to bring the runner home.

The game stayed tied until Muhlenberg's three-run seventh inning. They began the frame with three straight singles, bringing home the go-ahead run on the third hit in the sequence. Two more runs scored before the end of the inning on a sacrifice fly and a single. F&M was retired in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Game Two

After posting three runs in the first inning, the Diplomats' lead slipped via two runs from the Mules in the third inning before a four-run seventh inning gave the visitors a sweep. 

Jaden Spigner was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a double, while Sidorski and Header each recorded two singles. 

Klepper's walk began the first inning, while Mundy reached on an infield error on a sacrifice bunt attempt to put two runners into scoring position. One at-bat later, Spigner brought both runners home with a double. The Diplomats reloaded the bases, and Megan Wiarda walked one more runner home with two outs. Following the first inning, F&M was only able to get one more runner into scoring position. 

Muhlenberg posted two runs in the third inning to close the gap to 3-2. They started the frame with a walk and sacrifice bunt, while a stolen base put two runners in scoring position. With two outs, a double down the left-field line brought both runners home.

Both offenses were kept quiet until the Mules' four-run seventh inning. All of their scoring came on a run of six-consecutive singles with one out before a fielder's choice and strikeout ended the inning. Header singled with two outs in the seventh inning before a groundout ended the contest. 

The Diplomats will host non-conference opponent Alvernia on Thursday, April 10, at 3:00 p.m.