LANCASTER, Pa. --- Courtney Todd and Sarah Stokes fired complete games and Jenna Pabst delivered a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning of game two to help Gettysburg post a pair of 4-1 victories over Franklin & Marshall in Centennial Conference (CC) softball action on Thursday.

     Todd picked up the win in game one to improve to 8-1 on the season.  The sophomore allowed one unearned run on six hits to notch her team-best sixth complete game of the season while extending her streak of innings without allowing an earned run this season to 54.

     In game two, Stokes allowed one run on three hits to improve to 7-0 on the season and help the Bullets (18-1, 9-1 CC) extend their winning streak to nine games.

     Jen White went 4-for-7 with three runs scored on the afternoon for Gettysburg while Kerry McAuliffe and Lisa Smith each rapped out a pair of hits for the Diplomats (13-17, 4-8 CC).

     In game one, the Bullets used a number of F&M miscues to score all the runs they would need in the first inning.

     White led off the game with a double to left, moved to third on a Pabst sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball to make it 1-0.  Mandy Wilson reached on an error, stole second and third base, and scored on a throwing error to give Gettysburg a 2-0 lead.

      The Bullets made it 3-0 when Karyn Miller walked, moved to third on a single from Megan Wargo (New Freedom, PA/Susquehannock) and scored on another passed ball.

     With two outs in the second inning, White singled, moved to third on a single and error, and scored on a double steal to extend the Gettysburg lead to 4-0.

     Todd worked out of jams in the first, second and fourth innings before the Diplomats finally pushed a run across in the fifth.  Jenna Ashton reached on an error to open the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Angela Flouras.  After a single by Smith, Ashton scored on a double steal to pull F&M within 4-1.

     Todd held the Diplomats without a hit over the final 2-1/3 innings to lock up her team-best eighth win of the season.

     In the second game, Franklin & Marshall struck for the game's first run in the opening inning.  Ashton singled and stole second ahead of another sacrifice bunt from Flouras, then scored on an RBI ground out from Smith.

     Gettysburg tied the game in the second inning when Jen Nolan plated Miller with a one-out single.  The Bullets then took control of the game with a three-run fifth inning.

     With one out, Stef Mastropaolo and Emily Boardman rapped one-out singles ahead of a fielder's choice from White that put runners on the corners with two outs.  Pabst broke the tie and put the Bullets ahead for good with a double down the rightfield line that chased home Mastropaolo and White to make it 3-1.

     Pabst then scored on a throwing error off a grounder by Wilson to give the Bullets a 4-1 edge.  Stokes held the Diplomats to only two hits over the final six innings to keep Gettysburg at the forefront of the CC title chase.

     The Bullets entered the day tied with Western Maryland and Muhlenberg for first place in the conference.  The Mules and Green Terror met on Thursday night in Allentown for their conference doubleheader.

     Gettysburg returns to action on Saturday, April 22 for another key CC twinbill against Ursinus College.  The Bears are 8-2 in the conference.  The first game begins at 1 p.m.
 
 

Courtney Todd and Megan Wargo; Katie Barker and Rachel Geller. WP: Todd. LP: Barker. SO-BB: Todd 0-1, Barker 0-1. 2B: Jen White (G).
 
 

Sarah Stokes and Wargo; Kerry McAuliffe and Sam Strickler. WP: Stokes. LP: McAuliffe. SO-BB: Stokes 1-2, McAuliffe 0-1. 2B: Jenna Pabst (G).

 -30-