Game Notes

Last Week

Opening the week at home against first place Washington College, F&M swept the Shorewomen, 8-3 and 8-7. Though the Diplomats only registered five hits in game one, they took advantage of key errors in the field to cruise to a win. Trailing 1-0, F&M broke the game open in bottom of the second, first loading the bases before scoring four runs on an error and a two-run single. Later up 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Diplomats added a pair of insurance runs to extend their lead to five. Kayla Kilmer then came on in relief to close the game in the top of the seventh as F&M took the day's opening game. In the backend of the doubleheader, the Diplomats jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but fell behind in the top of the fifth as WAC scored five runs, including a go-ahead three run home run. In the bottom of the inning, however, F&M scored five runs of its own, capped off by a Maddy Yeingst three-run blast to left field. Kilmer once again slammed the door shut as the Diplomats swept the Shorewomen for first time since 2019. Read the full recap here. 

Traveling to Ursinus two days later, the Diplomats were shutout by the Bears in both games of their doubleheader. Game one saw F&M strand five runners in scoring position before Ursinus knocked in the game winning run in extra innings to walk off the Diplomats. In the following contest, Ursinus scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the third and later another in the bottom of the fifth. Though F&M brought the game-tying run to the plate in its last time up to bat, it was unable to convert, which ended the game. Read the full recap here. 

Coming back to Lancaster to host Haverford for a doubleheader, the Diplomats run-ruled the Fords in game one prior to winning a high scoring battle in game two. After scoring three runs in the bottom of the first of the opening game, F&M scored a pair of runs in each of the third and fourth innings. Then, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Natalia Garza laced a RBI single to put the run rule into effect. Charlotte Dwyer pitched a complete game shutout in the win. After Haverford got out to a 2-0 lead in the second game, the Diplomats scored seven runs between the first and second innings and never looked back. Later ahead 8-4 in the bottom of the fifth, Megan Wiarda and Hannah Matusiak blasted back-to-back solo home runs to extend the lead to six. Despite two runs crossing home for the Fords in the top of the seventh, Kayla Kilmer slammed the door shut to clinch the sweep. Read the full recap here.   

Back on the road the following day, F&M dropped a low scoring battle against Alvernia in game one, but salvaged the backend of the doubleheader with a 6-2 win. The Diplomats went down 2-0 early in the day's opening game but got a run back in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit in half. Though F&M put the game-tying run on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, it stranded the runner both times to end the game. In the following contest, the Diplomats and Golden Wolves were tied 1-1 through six innings before F&M exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh. McClure tossed her eighth complete game of the season in the win. Read the full recap here.  

Last Time vs. Gettysburg

With a late-season meeting last year, F&M was swept by Gettysburg in a home doubleheader. The first game saw the Bullets score in each of the contest's five innings, capped off by three-run top of the fifth, which put Gettysburg ahead 8-0. With the Diplomats unable to score in the bottom half of the frame, the game ended in a run rule.

In a more closely contested battle, Gettysburg and F&M were tied 4-4 through six innings of game two after the Diplomats erased 3-0 and 4-2 deficits. However, the Bullets homered twice in the top of the seventh, including a two-run home run, while F&M was held scoreless in its final time up to bat, as Gettysburg clinched a 7-4 win. Read the full recap here. 

Last Time vs. Moravian

Traveling to Bethlehem for a pair of games last season, the Diplomats were swept by Moravian 2-0 and 5-4. In the day's opening game, the Greyhounds scored one run in each of the second and third innings while holding F&M to just three hits en route to a 2-0 shutout. 

The Diplomats got in rhythm early on in the  backend of the doubleheader, as they took a 3-0 lead after the second inning. Over the next three frames, Moravian slowly inched closer, first scoring one run in both the third and fourth innings before knocking in two more in the bottom of the fifth to jump ahead 4-3. With runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, an error by the Moravian third baseman allowed Alexa Klepper to score from second base to tie the game. However, the Greyhounds answered right back in the bottom of the frame with a RBI single to win in walk off fashion. Read the full recap here. 

Last Time vs. Swarthmore

In the final series of 2023, F&M dropped both games of the home doubleheader to Swarthmore. After the Garnet jumped ahead 4-0 to start game one, the Diplomats cut into the deficit with a three-run bottom of the third. It would be the last time F&M scored on the game, however, as Swarthmore added three total runs in the final two innings en route to a 7-3 win.

Despite a 3-1 lead after the first three innings of game two, the Diplomats allowed four runs to score in the top of the fourth and trailed for the remainder of the game. Following a Garnet insurance run in the top of the sixth, F&M briefly rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs and putting the game-tying run on base. However, Jaden Spigner grounded out to end the game, marking a one-run defeat. Read the full recap here. 

Gettysburg Team Preview

Positioned in third place of the Centennial Conference standings, Gettysburg has a chance to punch its ticket to the postseason this week. After facing the Diplomats, the Bullets will take on Ursinus on Saturday, whom it leads by one game in the standings. As it enters the final stretch of the season, Gettysburg hopes to clinch its first berth to NCAA tournament since 2021, when it won a pair of games in the regional round. 

One of the conference's best hitters, Audrey Bergan is batting .406 on year with 11 RBI and 23 runs scored. Her batting average ranks fourth in the Centennial while her 41 hits rank fifth. The team's offense has been fortified by a strong pitching rotation, which has posted an ERA of 2.74, good for second in the conference. Paige Forry has led the charge with an 8-5 record and a 2.04 ERA. She's also struck out a conference-high 76 batters.  

Moravian Team Preview

A 2023 College World Series qualifier, the Greyhounds have had continued success this season, currently 20-7 coming into the week. Though Moravian began the year as the preseason No. 6 team in the nation, it has been left out of the top-25 for over three weeks. 

The Greyhounds have been one of the best offensive teams in the country, holding a .354 batting average, which ranks 16th in the country. With eight eligible players batting over .300, Ajala Elmore has led the team with a .460 average along with 16 RBI and 13 runs scored. With three home runs and seven total extra-base hits, she is also slugging .720 on the season.   

Swarthmore Team Preview

Needing two more wins to return to the conference tournament, the Garnet are in second place of the Centennial standings behind Washington College.  Last season, Swarthmore finished 8-8 in conference play in regular season but won four straight games in the conference tournament to win the championship. In the regional round of the NCAA tournament, the Garnet won their opening two games but dropped their next two to bow out of the postseason. 

One of Swarthmore's key contributors has been Olivia McLammy, who is batting .459 with 18 RBI and and 25 runs scored. With an on base percentage of .548, she ranks top-40 in the country and first in the conference. Having started 26 games this season, McLammy has reached base safely in all but three tilts. In the circle, Emily Bertrand has posted the third-best ERA in the conference (2.04) and most shutouts (5). In her last outing, however, she allowed four earned runs across two innings of work against McDaniel.