Game Notes

The Diplomats (7-12, 2-2 Centennial) look to follow up on Saturday's sweep of Haverford as they enter a week with two Centennial Conference doubleheaders against Muhlenberg and McDaniel and a non-conference matchup against Alvernia.

Last Week

The Diplomats went 2-3 last week, earning a sweep of Haverford on Saturday in a pair of one-run wins, although F&M suffered a sweep at Swarthmore on Tuesday and a loss to Lebanon Valley to open a scheduled doubleheader before inclement weather suspended the second game in the third inning.

F&M executed in clutch scenarios to secure a pair of close victories over Haverford at Baker Campus on Saturday, winning 3-2 in game one before earning a 12-11 victory in nine innings to conclude the afternoon. 

Game one saw F&M break a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the sixth inning on a wild pitch, scoring the game-winning run. Ainsley McClure earned the win in a complete-game performance, pitching all seven innings with two earned runs, five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts. Jaden Spigner had a solo home run, while Alexa Klepper and Sophia Noriega each recorded a pair of singles. Haverford got on the board first in the top of the second inning, using a sacrifice bunt to advance the leadoff runner before scoring the run on a single up the middle. Spigner answered right back with a solo home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the second to tie the game. The Diplomats added one run in the third inning, as the Diplomats loaded the bases with three-straight singles. A two-out Kate DelGrippo single scored one run, while the runner on second base was caught between third base and the plate to end the inning. Haverford tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth inning, using a similar formula to score their first run. A leadoff single was followed by a successful sacrifice bunt, while a one-out single brought the run home. The Diplomats scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning, as Grace Header doubled with one out. A single moved her to third base, and she came home on a wild pitch. The Fords got a runner on with two outs, but she was caught trying to steal second base to end the game. 

In a chaotic game two that featured 23 runs, 22 hits, and six errors across nine innings, the Diplomats earned a 12-11 victory on a Gabby Mundy sacrifice fly. Mundy was 3-for-5 with three RBI in the game, while Klepper was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a walk. Spigner was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI. DelGrippo earned the win, allowing one inherited runner across the final 2.2 innings of the game. F&M went ahead 7-0 through the first three innings, but Haverford got back into the game with a six-run fourth inning. The Diplomats added two runs in the fifth inning to lead 9-6, and they carried this lead into the seventh inning. At this point,the Fords struck for four runs to take a 10-9 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Following the fortune of a leadoff error, the Diplomats tied the game on back-to-back singles from Mundy and Klepper. With the winning run at third base, Haverford earned back-to-back outs, including a tag out at the plate, to send the game into extra innings. Haverford scored their free runner in the eighth inning on a sacrifice bunt and groundout on consecutive at-bats. The Diplomats scored the extra-innings runner in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice bunt and Megan Wiarda single. A walk advanced the game-winning run to second base with one out, but a lineout double play sent the contest to a ninth inning. Following a sacrifice bunt to begin the ninth inning, Delgrippo struck out a pair of batters to give F&M a strong chance at the win in the bottom of the ninth. A Catie Kozub bunt advanced the runner, and Mundy hit a fly ball to center field to score the winning run on a sacrifice fly. 

F&M began the week by suffering a sweep at Swarthmore, losing 3-2 on a walk-off in game one before falling by a 5-2 scoreline to conclude the day. 

In game one, Spigner claimed a 2-1 lead for F&M in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer to left field, while Charlotte Dwyer pitched 6.1 innings with two earned runs, five hits, four walks, and five strikeouts. Following a quiet start to the game, Haverford scored their first run in the bottom of the third that saw a runner score on a dropped third strike. The Diplomats were kept hitless until the top of the fifth inning and were nearly held to a one-hit shutout until the top of the seventh inning. Klepper singled with one out, and then Spigner cleared the fence with a two-out home run to left field to give the Diplomats a shot at the win. Swarthmore's hitting also executed in the bottom of the seventh, as they loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to begin the inning. From there, one run scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and a single to the right-center gap gave the hosts a 3-2 victory. Swarthmore scored five runs over the first three innings to secure a 5-2 win in the second contest. Noriega was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Klepper had a double and one RBI. The Garnet scored one run in the first inning on a two-out infield single, while they added two runs in the second inning via a solo homer and a two-out triple for a 3-0 lead. F&M closed the gap with a two-run third inning, getting two runners on with one out. From there, Klepper doubled to score one run, and Noriega scored another run on a single through the left side, although she was caught out in a rundown. The Garnet added two insurance runs in the third inning via two doubles and a single for a 5-2 advantage. The Garnet allowed just one baserunner in the final four innings for the win.

F&M suffered an 11-0 loss in one game against Lebanon Valley on Thursday, as the Dutchmen struck for five runs in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth inning to reach the run rule. The Diplomats were kept to just one hit across the six innings. The teams reached the bottom of the third of game two with LVC ahead, 1-0, although storms in the area suspended play with the game unable to resume. McClure pitched three innings with one earned run, five hits, and three strikeouts up to that point.

Last Time vs. Muhlenberg

The Diplomats were swept in last year's Centennial Conference opener against Muhlenberg, falling 7-5 and 2-0 respectively. Natalia Garza began game one with a leadoff double to left before Klepper brought her home with a one-out single up the middle. Muhlenberg leveled the scoreline in the top of the third, cashing in on a two-out triple with a single. From there, three consecutive hits with two outs scored three runs to give the Mules a 4-1 lead. They added a fifth run in the fifth following a leadoff single and passed ball that opened the inning. The Diplomats closed the gap in the fifth inning, as Wiarda doubled to begin the frame. Garza brought Wiarda to the plate an at-bat later with a single up the middle, while a Claire Sullivan double and infield error loaded the bases with one out. A ground ball the next at-bat saw the Mules execute on a throw home. F&M scored one more run by walking a batter home before stranding three runners on a strikeout. Muhlenberg scored two more runs in the sixth inning via three hits including a double and a triple for a 7-3 lead. F&M scored two runs of their own in the bottom half, as Kate Clement walked to start the inning and proceeded to steal two bases. Sullivan then singled with two outs and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Klepper scored both runs with a single to right. F&M got two runners into scoring position with two outs in the seventh inning before a flyout gave Muhlenburg a 7-5 win in the first game.

McClure threw a six-hit, two-earned run complete game but the offense was shut down in a 2-0 game-two loss. The Diplomats got two runners into scoring position in the first inning, as Sullivan singled and Klepper walked aboard with one out. An infield groundout advanced both runners before a strikeout left the pair stranded in scoring position. F&M was again unable to execute in the second inning following a Hannah Matusiak leadoff double. Two more runners reached on a walk and infield error, but Muhlenberg escaped on a ball to third base with two outs. Neither team got a runner into scoring position again until the sixth inning, when the Mules scored the go-ahead run. A leadoff single and back-to-back infield outs got the runner to third base, and a double to right brought her home. Muhlenberg added an insurance run on a two-out double to left in the seventh inning, while the Muhlenberg pitching staff retired 12 consecutive Diplomats to end the game allowing just two hits. 

Muhlenberg Team Preview

The Mules (14-12, 2-2 Centennial) had a 2-2 week, securing a sweep of Centennial Conference opponent Dickinson before suffering a sweep at Scranton on Friday. 

Down 3-0, the Mules struck for six runs in game one against Dickinson, winning 6-3. In game two, they broke a 3-3 deadlock with two runs in the sixth inning for a 5-3 victory, securing the sweep. Samantha Fehrenbach earned the win in game one, pitching the final three innings with no earned runs, three hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Scooter Hulsen was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a double, one run scored, while Skyla Campisi led the team with three hits, including one double. Dickinson got on the board with two runs in the third inning, totaling three singles and two walks across the frame. The Red Devils added one run in the fourth inning, as a one-out walk and stolen base was followed by a single to left field to score the runner from second base. After stranding five runners through the first five innings, the Mules scored six runs in the sixth inning via four hits and one error. A double and single each scored one run, while they tied the game on a fielder's choice. Hulsen scored the winning run on a two-out two-RBI double to left center, while an error on the next at-bat gave the Mules a 6-3 lead that they maintained the rest of the way.  The Mules broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the sixth inning to win the second game of the day. Kaya Mahy scored the game-winning run on a double to the right center-gap. Hulsen led the offense, going 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Ellie Williams had one double and two RBI. In the Circle, Justine Bergara pitched all seven innings with two earned runs, five hits, and four strikeouts. A Campisi sacrifice fly in the first inning opened the scoring, while the Mules added two runs on Williams' double down the left-field line in the second frame. Dickinson leveled the game with three runs on just two hits in the fourth inning. The Mules scored the game's final two runs in the sixth inning, as Mahy doubled the go-ahead run home with two outs before Hulsen added an insurance run on the next at-bat with a single. Bergara stranded three runners over the last two innings to secure the win.

Scranton got the better of Muhlenberg in both games on Friday, winning by 8-4 and 2-1 scorelines. Game one featured a combined 28 hits. Ava Calabrese led the offensive effort with three doubles, while Hulsen was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a pair of doubles. Samantha Fehrenbach pitched the final three innings for the Mules and allowed no runs, three hits, and one walk with three strikeouts. The Mules scored three runs in the top of the first, making use of three doubles and a pair of errors from the Royals. Scranton scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Muhlenberg added one run in the top of the second to lead 4-2, but Scranton tied the game on two runs and four hits in the bottom of the frame. Three runs for Scranton in the third inning and one more run in the fourth completed the scoring in the contest, as the mules stranded nine base runners in the last five innings. The Mules carried a 1-0 lead into the fifth inning before falling, 2-1, to conclude the day. Gillian Zack's RBI single in the first inning was the lone scoring action for Muhlenberg while Bergara pitched six innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Bergara kept Scranton hitless through three innings, but the Royals eventually broke through with three two-out singles in the bottom of the fifth. Muhlenberg got the tying run to second base with one out in the seventh, but Scranton drew back-to-back popouts to end the game. 

The Mules are stealing bases at the best clip in the Centennial Conference, leading in stolen bases (48) and stolen base percentage (96.0%).  Their fielding percentage also leads the conference. Among Centennial players, Hulsen ranks fifth in batting average (.417) and seventh in OPS (1.021),  while Mahy ranks second in the conference in home runs (6). Mahy also has a conference-high six sacrifice bunts. Bergara is fifth in strikeouts (41), while Fehrenbach is ninth in opponent batting average (.259). 

Last Time vs. Alvernia

The Diplomats split last year's set against Alvernia, losing 2-1 in game on before earning a 6-2 victory in the second game. The Golden Wolves scored a run in each of the first two innings of game one. The first run scored via a two-out single up the middle, while a single and double to lead off the second inning brought their lead to 2-0. The Diplomats cut the deficit in the fifth inning following a Matusiak leadoff single. Later on, a throwing error from the pitcher that saw the ball go to right field allowed the runner at first base to score. F&M got two runners aboard with two outs, but a popout to the circle ended the inning.  F&M got runners into scoring position in the sixth inning, but they were unable to draw level for a 2-1 final score. Aliza Sheflin went six innings with two earned runs, five hits, three walks, and six strikeouts, while Matusiak had a 2-for-3 game. 

A five-run seventh inning for F&M broke a 1-1 deadlock to earn the team split on the day. McClure pitched a complete game with one earned run, five hits, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Following a quiet start from both offenses, F&M got one run on the scoreboard in the third inning following a leadoff double from Clement. A sacrifice bunt got her to third base, while an infield error allowed her to score. Alvernia tied things up in the sixth inning following a leadoff single, walk and single to load the bases with one out. From there, they walked a run home before a fielder's choice play at the plate and a strikeout left the game tied at 1-1. Kaitlin Herrick kicked off the five-run seventh inning with a leadoff single. A walk was followed by two-straight singles that scored the first two runs. Two more runs scored on a fielding error, while a Maddy Yeingst sacrifice fly completed scoring in the inning. McClure escaped a bases-loaded scenario in the seventh inning with just one run scoring to secure the win. Alvernia loaded the bases with a single, walk, and infield error with one out. A sacrifice fly to left field scored one run, and they reloaded the bases with a walk. A flyout one batter later ended the game. 

Alvernia Team Preview

The Golden Wolves (14-14, 2-6 MAC Commonwealth) were 1-3 in the last week, splitting against non-conference opponent Misericordia on Tuesday before suffering a sweep against MAC Commonwealth opponents Eastern on Saturday.

Alvernia lost, 8-7, in game one against Eastern before the Eagles secured a 13-4 win in six innings to conclude the day. Brooke Hauck had a two-homer, six-RBI performance to open the day, while Summer Montgomery and Taylor McClain also had two hits. Hauck's first homer was a two-run shot to left field in the top of the first. Eastern reclaimed the lead in the second inning, scoring three runs on three hits, a hit batter, and a wild pitch to bring the third run home. The Eagles stretched their lead to 4-2 with a solo homer in the third inning. Alvernia rallied with a five-run fifth inning. After loading the bases, Hauck delivered again with a grand slam over the center-field fence. Alvernia added one more run later on in the frame on a sacrifice fly to lead 7-4 entering the bottom of the fifth. Eastern reclaimed the lead with a four-run sixth inning. After loading the bases with no outs, a single scored two runs, while a double from the next batter brought the go-ahead run home for an 8-7 advantage. The Golden Wolves managed a two-out single in the seventh, but they were unable to tie the game. The Golden Wolves went 1-0 up on an infield error in the first inning before succumbing to nine runs between the third and fourth innings from Eastern, eventually losing 13-4.  McClain was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Hauck and Montgomery also had two hits. 

Alvernia started their Misericordia doubleheader on the wrong side of 5-3 scoreline before winning on a walk-off to conclude the day, 5-4. Hauck was 2-for-3 in game one with an RBI, while McClain had the team's lone extra-base hit on a double. Natalie Berwick started in the circle and pitched four innings with two earned runs, five hits, three walks, and five strikeouts. Alvernia took a two-run lead in the bottom of the first via a Hauck single with one out and a two-out double from McClain. Alvernia stranded three runners in the top of the second to preserve their lead. Neither team got into scoring position again until Alvernia's four-run fifth inning, as they scored one run on a single up the middle before a three-run homer to left center gave them a 4-2 lead. The Golden Wolves closed the gap with a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning, but the Cougars added an insurance run on a solo homer in the seventh before shutting down Alvernia in the bottom of the seventh. Montgomery scored the game-winning single in extra innings to win game two, 5-4. She also led the team with three hits in the contest, while Ashlyn Hillanbrand pitched all eight innings with two earned runs, eight hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Misericordia struck first with two runs in the first inning on a two-RBI triple down the right field line. The Golden Wolves tied the contest in the third inning, doing a double steal with runners on the corners before later walking the tying run home. Misericordia took a 3-2 lead in the seventh on an RBI groundout before Alvernia leveled the game on an infield error, making use of an earlier one-out double. They got the game-winning run to third base with two outs, but a strikeout sent the game to extra innings. Misericordia scored their extra-innings runner on a double to begin the inning. With a runner at second base with one out, Alvernia kept the gap to one run with a clutch 6-5-1 double play. A one-out Payton Splain double scored the game-tying run, and Montgomery won the game with a two-out hit to the left-center gap. 

Among MAC Commonwealth programs, they are tied for the most stolen bases (46), while they also share the best fielding percentage in the conference (.958). Their pitching staff has the fourth-best ERA (4.10). Alexia Fitzgerald leads the conference with 32 hits and has swiped the second-most bases. Hauck is tied for seventh in RBI (20) and tied for second in triples (4). Berwick leads the pitchers, and ranks eighth in the MAC Commonwealth, with a 3.55 ERA. 

Last Time vs. McDaniel

F&M split last season's trip to Westminster, falling 7-2 in game one before earning a 9-3 win in the second game. F&M scored the first run of the game in the top of the second following a leadoff Yeingst triple. She scored on the next at-bat on a groundout. McDaniel took the lead for good via a four-run third inning that featured five hits including a pair of doubles before runners were stranded at the corners. Spigner singled to start the fifth, and a Klepper single with two outs reduced the gap to 5-2. McDaniel completed their scoring with two runs in the fifth, as a run was walked home and another came in via an RBI groundout. The Diplomats loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning, but McDaniel drew back-to-back flyouts to close the game.

The offense was consistent in game two as the Diplomats earned a 9-3 win. The first five batters for F&M reached safely to start the game, and a Madison Martin double scored a pair of runs. McDaniel escaped with just two runs allowed via a strikeout and double play. McDaniel struck right back in the bottom of the first with a leadoff home run followed by an RBI double later in the inning. Klepper completed a run of three-straight singles in the second inning to go ahead 3-2. Yet again, McDaniel had an answer as they made use of a leadoff double that was followed by a two-out RBI single. F&M scored the eventual game-winning run in the third inning in an inning with two runs via three singles. F&M added two runs in the fifth via a Spigner single with two outs, while Garza and Klepper each had an RBI in the seventh inning.

McDaniel Team Preview

The Green Terror (10-10-1, 2-4 Centennial) went 1-3 in Centennial Conference competitions last week, earning a split at Washington College on Tuesday before being kept to zero runs in a sweep at Swarthmore on Saturday.

McDaniel scored seven runs in the top of the eighth to win game one, 11-5, over Washington College before losing, 10-5, in game two. In game one, Ally McBride was 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI in game one, while in the circle she pitched all eight innings with two earned runs, eight hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Ashley Shawyer was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. McDaniel opened with a 2-0 lead through three innings, scoring an RBI single in the first inning and McBride's solo homer in the third inning. Washington countered with three runs in the fourth inning, making use of a two-out error to bring two runs home. They moved their lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning via a sacrifice place. The Green Terror reduced the deficit via a solo homer from Shawyer in the sixth inning. Down to their last out in the seventh inning with the bases loaded, Washington College hit the McDaniel batter to tie the game and send it to extra innings. McDaniel struck for seven runs on six hits in the top of the eighth to go ahead, 11-4. They eventually won 11-5. Keonna Gonzalez was 1-for-3 with three RBI in the game two defeat, while Caitlin Boden had a triple. Washington took a 2-0 load in the bottom of the first inning, while McDaniel responded in the top of the third with three runs on three hits and three walks to lead 3-2. Washington took control of the game with four runs over the next two innings before adding four insurance runs in the sixth inning to lead, 10-3, heading into the seventh. McDaniel closed the gap with two runs in the seventh before falling, 10-5. 

Swarthmore did not allow any runs in Saturday's doubleheader against McDaniel, winning by 10-0 and 5-0 scorelines. McDaniel was kept to just one hit from Shawyer in game one, while Bella Sylvester recorded the lone extra-base hit on a double in game two. 

McDaniel ranks third in on-base percentage in the Centennial Conference, while they are fifth in both batting average (.293) and slugging percentage (.380). Among Centennial Conference players, Shayer is fifth in on-base percentage (.491) and eighth in OPS (1.013). Sylvester is tied for third with three triples

F&M Individuals in the Centennial Conference Top 10 (Among Qualifying Players, As of 4/7/25)

Batting Average
2. Alexa Klepper (.476)
7. Jaden Spigner (.400)

On-Base Percentage
6. Alexa Klepper (.489)

Slugging Percentage
2. Alexa Klepper (.690)
4. Jaden Spigner (.675)

OPS
3. Alexa Klepper (1.179)
6. Jaden Spigner (1.104)

Home Runs
T-6. Jaden Spigner (2)

Triples
T-4. Alexa Klepper (3)

Walks
T-5. Natalia Garza (11)

ERA
5. Ainsley McClure (2.42)

Strikeouts
T-6. Ainsley McClure (36)

Looking Strikeouts
T-5. Ainsley McClure (10)

Opponent Batting Average
10. Ainsley McClure (.269)