LANCASTER, Pa. – The Haverford College softball team scored 10 runs over the final two innings of its opening game against Franklin & Marshall for a 13-6 victory. However, it was a reversal of fortunes in game two as the Diplomats (16-4, 6-2 CC) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to salvage a split with the Fords (15-6, 6-2 CC).

Despite using a late outburst in the opening game, Haverford never trailed in the game as the Fords tallied three runs in the top of the first inning to jump in front. Those three runs all came with two outs as Dayle Comerford walked and Kristin Tatum singled to keep the first inning alive. Jill Schnall doubled home the game's first run before Kendall Chambers drove home two more with the second consecutive double to put her team up 3-0.

Game one starter Sara Tauriello did not allow Franklin & Marshall to crack the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning. In that frame, the Diplomats had three of their first four reach safely on a hit, scoring a pair of runs. However, Tauriello kept the Haverford lead in order with two infield outs to escape further damage.

Now up just 3-2 heading to the sixth, Haverford got three straight singles from Julie Garlick, Miwa Wenzel and Jessica Koshinski to start to the inning. Comerford brought the second run home on a sacrifice fly, while Schnall brought home the inning's third run as the Diplomats unsuccessfully tried to cut down a run at the plate. Just like the first inning, it was Chambers that did the final damage. Her double into the right centerfield gap emptied the bases and gave the Fords a 9-2 lead after the top of the sixth.

The Fords added four insurance runs in their final at-bats, going on for the eventual 13-4 lead. The Diplomats scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of seventh to close the gap but the Fords would prevail by the 13-6 final.

Sara Tauriello went 5.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs to improve her record to 6-1 on the year. She struck out four on the afternoon. In addition to her exploits at the plate, Chambers came on to finish the final two innings of the opening game. She allowed just the two unearned runs over her 1.2 innings in the circle.

Chambers also went 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBI to pace the offense in the first game. All nine starters recorded a hit in the victory. The top five hitters and Wenzel in the nine spot each scored two runs. Comerford and Schnall each had two RBI on the afternoon.

In game two, it was again the Fords that jumped out to an early lead. Koshinski doubled to start the second game and came around to score on a wild pitch later in the frame. However, three Haverford errors during Franklin & Marshall's third turn at-bat led to a 3-1 advantage for the hosts after the third inning, its first lead of the afternoon.

Haverford bounced back to tie the game in the fourth with two runs as Comerford and Tatum each singled to start the inning and were bunted into scoring position by Schnall. Chambers picked up her sixth RBI of the day, making the score 3-2. Tatum tied the game with a steal of home before Franklin & Marshall escaped further damage. The Fords retook the lead in the sixth when a two-out hit from Tatum scored Sarah Brody, who had reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.

Nevertheless, the Diplomats scored twice on three hits and one Haverford error in the sixth to take the lead. The Fords had the potential game-tying run on third with two outs after Wenzel beat out an infield single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt and passed ball. However, a line drive to the centerfield ended the Haverford threat and sealed the Diplomats' win.

Softball will be back on the road Tuesday for a Centennial Conference doubleheader with Ursinus. Those games are slated to get underway at 3 p.m.