GETTYSBURG, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall softball team (12-17, 4-5 Centennial Conference) dropped their first game against Gettysburg (14-17, 5-4 Centennial Conference) before nearby lightning halted the second game with F&M ahead, 5-1 in the fourth inning.

Game One

A two-RBI double from the Bullets in the first proved enough to fend off the Diplomats in a low-scoring 2-1 defeat in the opener. Natalia Garza reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth inning, but the game-tying and go-ahead runs were left stranded in scoring position.

 Ainsley McClure bounced back from the first inning, allowing just those two earned runs on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts. 

Garza went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base. Abby Favazza and Sara Hess each drew two walks, while Ellie LoPiccolo went 1-for-2 with a walk. Gabby Mundy and Morgan Risnychok also recorded singles.

The Bullets pounced quickly in the bottom of the first on a single, walk, and two-RBI double to left field. The next batter hit a bloop single into shallow center field. The runner at second base was caught trying to advance to third, while Gettysburg's hitter advanced on the throw to put a runner back into scoring position. McClure struck out the next two batters to minimize the damage. 

F&M got their first runner into scoring position in the third inning, as Favazza walked and Madision Martin converted a successful sacrifice bunt. Hess walked aboard, but the Bullets drew a lineout and strikeout to maintain a shutout. 

The Diplomats' best chance to equalize came in the fifth inning in another inning that commenced with a walk from Favazza. Risnychok followed this with a single, while Hess advanced both runners 60 feet on a flyball to left field. Garza plated Favazza on a single to left field and advanced Martin to third base before stealing second base to put the go-ahead run into scoring position. Gettysburg maintained their lead, however, with a strikeout and groundout.

LoPiccolo began the sixth with a walk followed by a sacrifice bunt from Mundy, but the Bullets kept their lead thanks to a strikeout and popout in foul ground.

McClure coasted through the middle of the game, allowing two base runners between the second and fifth frames before facing some trouble in the bottom of the sixth. The leadoff runner singled and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts before McClure kept the gap at 2-1 with a popout. 

Hess walked with one out in the seventh but advanced no further to confirm a 2-1 loss.

Game Two

F&M earned a 5-1 lead through the first three innings of the second game before lightning halted play with one out in the top of the fourth.

So far, Kate DelGrippo hasn't allowed an earned run while giving up two hits and two walks with a strikeout. She also has four of F&M's five total RBI thanks to a one RBI single in the first inning and a three-run homer in the third. LoPiccolo has F&M's other RBI on a single in the first inning, while she's totaled two hits so far.

Gettysburg's lone run through three came on a throwing error in the third inning.

Up Next

F&M concludes the second game against Gettysburg with a 5-1 lead in the fourth on Thursday at 3:00 p.m.