Game Notes

Last Week

The Diplomats opened the week with a home doubleheader against Dickinson in which they were swept, 1-0 and 5-4. The first game saw the two teams combine for five hits, with the Red Devils posting the lone run of the game in the top of the second on a bases loaded walk. Though F&M put both the game-tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the top of the seventh, it stranded both to end the game. In the backend of the doubleheader, the Diplomats jumped in front 1-0 before Dickinson scored two runs in the top of the second and never trailed for the remainder of the game. After the Red Devils went ahead 5-2 following the top of the fifth, F&M knocked in two runs in the bottom half of the frame to cut the deficit to one. Unable to get another runner on base in the final two innings, however, the Diplomats fell 5-4. Read the full recap here. 

Traveling to McDaniel on Saturday, F&M split the afternoon doubleheader, losing 7-2 in game one before winning 9-3 in game two. The day's opening contest saw the Diplomats jump ahead 1-0 before the Green Terror scored five runs between the third and fourth innings to stay ahead for good. In the backend of the doubleheader, the two teams were tied 3-3 through two innings before F&M scored six unanswered runs in the final five frames. Leading the way was Alexa Klepper, who batted 4-for-5 on the game with two RBI and a run scored. Read the full recap here. 

Last Time vs. Washington College

With both games of 2023 decided by one run, the Diplomats were swept by the Shorewomen in the 2023 doubleheader. With F&M scoreless in game one, Washington College's lone run in the bottom of the third proved to be the game winning run, as it held on to a 1-0 victory. Though the Diplomats put both the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the sixth and seventh innings, they were unable to convert each time. 

After posting two runs on the board in the second inning of game two, F&M went scoreless over the next five innings. In that stretch, the Shorewomen added a run each in the third and fourth innings, tying the game at 2-2. With runners on second and third with one away in the bottom of the seventh, Lexie Witmer's ground ball to second base allowed Alyssa Vieria to score the game winning run from third. Read the full recap here. 

Last Time vs. Ursinus

Hosting the Bears at Baker Campus Fields in 2023, the Diplomats fell to Ursinus 11-6 in a game that was shortened due to darkness. The Bears got off to a quick start in the contest, scoring five runs in the top of the second, four of which came unearned. They then extended the lead to 8-0 over the next two innings, as 14 batters came to the plate and nine reached base safely. However, F&M managed to get on the board in the bottom half of the sixth, as Kat Gunther brought in a run with a double before scoring herself on an RBI single by Claire Sullivan. After the Bears answered with two more runs of their own in the top of the fifth, the Diplomats continued to chip away with a four-run bottom of the fifth. In the inning, Devon Witt drilled a two-run inside-the-park homerun and was followed by a two-run homerun by Gunther. The comeback attempt fell short though, as the game was called off after the end of the inning . Read the full recap here. 

Last Time vs. Haverford

In a road doubleheader, the Diplomats were run-ruled in game one before taking a 6-2 decision in game two. Inside of the first four innings of the first contest, the Fords added 11 runs to the board, highlighted by a pair of two-run homeruns. Though F&M added one run each in the third and fourth innings, it was not enough to keep up with Haverford, as the Diplomats fell 11-2. 

The Diplomats then got off to a strong start in the backend of the doubleheader, as two runs came home in the second inning following a Megan Wiarda two-run double. Wiarda knocked in another run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to give F&M a 3-0 lead. After F&M scored three more runs in the top of the seventh, Ainsley McClure finished the complete game effort in the bottom of the frame to close out a 6-2 win. Read the full recap here. 

Washington College Team Preview

Playing three doubleheaders last week, the Shorewomen swept McDaniel and Haverford but dropped both games of their twin bill against Swarthmore. They are now 18-11-1 and 9-1 in conference play, putting them in firm control of first place in the Centennial. WAC's success has been spearheaded by a team-ERA of 3.36, good for fourth in the conference. 

Jenna Harper has starred for the Shorewomen offensively with a batting average of .393 along with 18 RBI and 13 runs scored. In six of her last eight contests, the sophomore has recorded multi-hit games, including four straight. Additionally, she's knocked in 11 runs in that span. 

Ursinus Team Preview

Having dropped back-to-back tilts, Ursinus comes into the week 11-17 and 3-3 in the conference. Its latest contests include a doubleheader against Salisbury in which the Bears were swept 5-0 and 9-0. Last season, the Bears made it to the championship round of the Centennial Conference Tournament but ultimately fell to Swarthmore. Though the team lost five of its seniors from 2023, it brought back 14 players to gear up for another deep run in the postseason. A strong hitting side, the Bears rank 32nd in the nation in total hits with 229. However, Ursinus's team ERA of 4.18 ranks seventh in the conference. 

With a hit in all but three games this season, Samantha Mallen has been the Bears' leader at the plate, posting a batting average of .437 with nine RBI and 28 runs scored. Her 43 hits rank eighth in the country while her 22 stolen bases put her top-25 in division III. She's also the toughest batter to strikeout in the nation, having been punched out twice in over 100 at-bats. 

Haverford Team Preview

Winless in nearly three weeks, the Fords come into the week at 7-19-1 and 1-8-1 in Centennial play. Since March 22, Haverford has gone 1-12-1, including a current streak of nine games without a win. Marred by pitching struggles, the Fords have posted a conference-worst team-ERA of 5.89. They've also recorded a fielding percentage of .939, which ranks last in the Centennial. 

One of the bright spots for Haverford has been first year Lauren Martin, who is hitting a team-high .345 with nine RBI and 18 runs scored. She's currently on a six-game hit streak with four straight multi-hit games.