CLERMONT, Fla.- Ainsley McClure recorded her 200th career strikeout in a 1-2 day for the Diplomats where F&M (2-3) erased a three-run deficit to defeat Plymouth State, 5-4. The Diplomats also dropped their opener to Eastern Connecticut State, 13-5 in 6 innings and the concluding contest against Ripon, 9-0 in five innings 

Game One (vs. Eastern Connecticut State) 

The Eastern Connecticut (4-0) offense was persistent in their 13-5 victory over the Diplomats, scoring two runs in four-straight innings before reaching the run limit with a five-run fifth inning. 

After having a home run become unofficial due to a game cancellation earlier this week, Lauren Steiner recorded her first career home run on a solo shot in the fifth inning. Morgan Risnychok went 2-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and one run scored. Gabby Mundy was 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Natalia Garza went 1-for-2 2 with a walk, RBI, and one run scored.

The Warriors opened the game with two runs, while F&M countered with a two-run second inning where Risnychok each singled and stole bases to get into scoring position. They would both cross the plate as the inning progressed, as F&M remained tied at 2-2 through the first frame.

Eastern Connecticut posted two more runs in the second inning, making use of two errors before plating both runs on a two-out single. They posted two more runs in the third inning in a three-hit inning, while F&M closed the gap to 6-4 two runs of their own in the bottom of the from, scoring runs on an Ellie LoPiccolo RBI single and an infield error with two outs. 

 The Warriors added two more runs in the fourth inning, white F&M scored one more run on a Steiner solo homer to begin the fifth, putting F&M behind, 8-5. 

The Warriors reached the run limit with a five run sixth inning, making use of five hits, few passed balls and a wild pitch from the Diplomats to reach a 13-5 advantage. F&M was retired in order in the bottom half of the frame to conclude the contest.

Game Two (vs. Plymouth State)

The Diplomats executed on a three-error seventh inning from Plymouth State (2-5), erasing a 4-1 deficit to claim a 5-4 victory over the Panthers. 

McClure reached 200 career strikeouts in this complete-game performance, pitching all seven frames with four earned runs, nine hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Offensively, Sara Hess starred for the F&M offense with a 2-for-4 performance that featured three RBI, a double, and one run scored. Kaitlin Herrick went 2-for-3, while Madison Martin (2 R) and Gabby Mundy each recorded a stolen base.

Plymouth State opened scoring in the first inning after the leadoff runner stole two bases and reached home on an RBI groundout. The Diplomats then left the bases loaded in the top of the second inning. 

Neither side reached scoring position again until the fifth inning, as F&M tied things up at 1-1. Martin made use of a two-out infield error, stealing second base before scoring on an RBI single from Hess. The Panther countered in the bottom half of the frame, getting the first two runs on base and advancing them with a sacrifice bunt. Both runners crossed the plate with a one-out single to put F&M behind, 3-1.

They added one more run with a one-out RBI single in the sixth inning for a 4-1 advantage.

Herrick singled and Martin reached on an infield error with one out. With two outs, Hess doubled to plate both runners, while Hess crossed the plate on an infield error on the next at-bat. Mundy reached safely on that error, and got into scoring position as the go-ahead run on a stolen base. They soon paid dividends, as an error in the outfield allowed Mundy to give F&M a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. McClure then retired Plymouth State in order.

Game Three (vs. Ripon)

Ripon (6-3) consistently pulled away in their 9-0 run-rule win over the Diplomats, limiting F&M to three hits in the process. Cate Shrader led F&M's offense with a 1-for-1, one-walk performance, while Hess and Risnychok also posted singles.

The Red Hawks scored five runs through the first three innings before reaching the run rule in a three-run fourth inning. 

Up Next

The Diplomats are off on Wednesday before returning with two games on Thursday. The Diplomats will open against William Paterson at 9:00 a.m before facing Smith at 11:30 a.m.