LANCASTER, Pa.- The Franklin & Marshall softball team (8-10, 0-2 Centennial Conference) scored a combined 22 runs across a pair of five-inning run-rule victories over visiting Albright (8-14, 2-4 MAC Commonwealth) on Thursday.

Game One

A six-run first inning followed by a two-run Morgan Risnychok home run in the second frame led the Diplomats to a 10-2 victory in five innings to open Thursday's doubleheader.

Risnychok recorded her first career homer in a game where she went 2-for-4 with the home run, a triple, four RBI, two runs scored, and a walk. Lauren Steiner hit 2-for-2 with a triple, one RBI, one walk, and one run scored. Madison Martin went 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored. 

In the circle, Kate DelGrippo earned the win after pitching four innings with two earned runs, two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Grace D'Angelo closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the first, F&M efficiently loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first via a single from Header and walks from Natalia Garza and Steiner. Header scored the first run on a wild pitch, while Risnychok cleared the bases with a triple to the right-center gap. Following back-to-back walks from Sara Hess and Megan Wiarda to reload the bases, Martin brought two runners home on a single ahead of a Gabby Mundy RBI single to complete the scoring in the frame.

Following Steiner's one-out double in the second inning, Risnychok cleared the left-center fence one at-bat later to get F&M to the run-rule threshold inside of two innings.

F&M added on two more runs in the third inning after loading the bases with one out. DelGrippo brought one runner home on a sacrifice fly, while Steiner extended F&M's lead to ten with a single.

After retiring the first nine batters in order, DelGrippo conceded two runs in the fourth inning off a leadoff walk followed by a two-run home run to put F&M's lead at 10-2. DelGrippo bounced by following an infield error with a fielder's choice, popout, and strikeout.

D'Angelo stepped into the circle in the fifth inning but faced early pressure following a sequence of a walk, error, and walk to begin the frame. She escaped the inning without allowing a run after inducing an infield popout, strikeout, and flyout to complete game one.

Game Two

A six-run third inning got F&M to an eight-run advantage before securing the sweep by a 12-3 scoreline in five innings. Eight different Diplomats recorded a hit in the game led by a two-hit performance from Header where she recorded an RBI, a stolen base, a walk, and one run scored. Risnychok and Erika Stewart each recorded two RBI. 

Ainsley McClure earned the win after pitching four innings with three earned runs, six hits, three walks, and two strikeouts, while Alex Kilpatrick retired the Lions in order in the fifth inning.

Albright earned their first lead of the inning with a two-out rally in the top of the first, plating two runs on a sequence of a walk, double, and single.

F&M promptly replied in the bottom half of the frame, as Garza and Steiner each stole a base to put two runners into scoring position with two outs. The Diplomats made use of a dropped fly ball to plate two runs, while one more runner crossed the plate on a single from Ellie LoPiccolo for a 3-2 lead.

The Diplomats added one more run in the second inning following Stewart's one-out walk. On the next at-bat, Stewart swiped second base and broke for third after the late throw went past second. The throw to third was over the head of the third baseman, allowing Stewart to score on the play. 

Two runners got into scoring position with one out in the top of the third, but McClure didn't allow a run to score in the inning after generating a lineout and strikeout. 

F&M tallied six runs in the third inning on six singles, an infield error, a walk, and one hit batter. The Diplomats loaded the bases with one out, while Martin opened the scoring with a one RBI single. Stewart plated two more runs on the next at-bat, while Header scored one more run with her base hit. Risnychok completed the scoring in the frame with a two-RBI single up the middle to push the lead to 10-2.

Albright scored one run in the fourth inning via back-to-back two-out doubles, but F&M yet again countered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a single from Ayla Steinberg and an infield error. 

Kilpatrick retired Albright in order in the fifth to secure yet another five-inning victory.

Up Next

F&M continues Centennial Conference play with a trip to Haverford on Saturday, April 4, at 1:00 p.m.