CLERMONT, Fla.- The Franklin & Marshall softball team (4-6) split in the team's final day of THE Spring Games, dropping a 17-5 opener to Keene State (6-3) in six innings before earning an 8-2 victory over Amherst (3-5) to conclude the week. 

Game One (vs. Keene State)

After claiming a 3-0 lead through the first inning, Keene State (6-3) applied consistent offensive pressure, including a four-run fourth inning extended by an error to claim an 8-5 lead through five innings. In the sixth, they made use of a couple of Diplomats errors to extend a nine-run frame to confirm a 17-5 defeat for the Diplomats.

Megan Wiarda was 1-for-2 with 2 RBI, one walk, and one stolen base, while Grace Header went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one stolen base, and two runs scored. Kaitlin Herrick and Morgan Risnychok each went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

After Ainsley McClure stranded the bases loaded with one out of a strikeout and flyout, F&M's offense delivered a three-run bottom of the first inning. Natalia Garza and Lauren Steiner each walked on base early on in the frame, while Header plated one run on a single to left field. After a Gabby Mundy walked, Wiarda singled to right field to score two runs. 

The Owls got onto the scoreboard in the third inning following a one-out single and double. The first run crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly to left field, while the second run came home on a single to the left side to get back within a run at 3-2. 

A two-out error extended the top of the fourth for Keene State, and they made use of that mistake by scoring four runs via back-to-back doubles and a single. The Diplomats closed the deficit to 6-4 thanks to Risnychok's two-out single up the middle, but the Owls regained momentum with two runs with two outs on a double and a single to lead, 8-4.

Yet again, the Diplomats pushed back with one run in the bottom of the fifth inning following a leadoff double and steal of third base by Header. Herrick hit a single up the middle to bring the runner home, but F&M would later leave the bases loaded, trailing 8-5.

A couple of early errors in the sixth inning set the stage for a nine-run sixth inning for the Owls, as they made use of the two errors with six singles, two walks, and one hit batter to lead, 17-5. They maintained the run rule in the bottom of the sixth, winning by that scoreline.

Game Two (vs. Amherst) 

Alex Kilpatrick earned her first-career win with a two-run complete-game performance, guiding the Diplomats to an 8-2 win against Amherst (3-5). Across seven innings, she allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

Header went 3-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, and one stolen base, while Steiner hit her fourth home run of the week, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Madison Martin was 1-for-3 with a triple, one stolen base, and one run scored. Four other Diplomats recorded one RBI including Garza, Abby Favazza, Herrick, and Ayla Steinberg.

The Mammoths looked to strike in the first inning, loading the bases with one out via an infield error, walk, and single. Kilpatrick escaped without damage, drawing a strikeout and flyout to keep the score level at 0-0. 

After stranding runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, F&M scored three runs in the third. Martin began the inning with a triple to left field, while Header brought her home with a single to left. Steiner extended the Diplomats' lead to three with a two-out homer over the center-field fence. 

After retiring nine consecutive batters, Kilpatrick faced some adversity in the fourth inning, as the Mammoths got two runners aboard with one out. With runners on the corners, Kilpatrick threw a wild pitch that allowed one run to score, while another runner crossed the plate on a successful squeeze bunt. She limited Amherst's scoring to two runs, generating a flyout to end the frame.

The F&M offense bought a couple of insurance runs in the fifth inning, as the Diplomats loaded the bases with no outs on walks from Header and Risnychok plus a hit-by-pitch from Steiner. Favazza plated one run on a fielder's choice, while Herrick brought one more runner home on a groundout to give F&M a 5-2 advantage.

Kilpatrick stranded two more runners in the bottom of the fifth inning on back-to-back fielder's choice plays, while F&M added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning on one-out singles from Garza and Header in an inning that featured two wild pitches and one error from Amherst. The Diplomats completed the scoring with a RBI groundout from Steinberg in the seventh inning, while Kilpatrick secured the complete-game in the bottom half of the frame. 

Up Next

F&M hosts Penn State Brandywine for the home opener on Tuesday, March 24, at 3:00 p.m.