Gettysburg College Athletics

FIRST PITCH: Today's Centennial Conference (CC) doubleheader marks the 83rd and 84th all-time meetings between Gettysburg (20-10, 7-5 CC) and Franklin & Marshall (14-20, 5-7 CC) in a series that dates back to 1981. The Bullets lead the all-time series 61-21 and have won four straight. The last Diplomat win came in the second game of the 2019 series in Lancaster, 4-3.

LAST SEASON'S SERIES: Gettysburg blanked Franklin & Marshall in the opener 8-0 in five innings to officially clinch a 2023 playoff spot then scored three in the seventh inning of game two for a 7-4 win, keeping a chance at the top seed alive. Giovanna Komst led a Bullet squad that pounded out 26 hits in the twinbill with six knocks in the two games, including a 4-for-4 game two. Julia Smith added five hits, including a 3-for-3 game one. Alexa Klepper led the Diplomats with three hits in the second game. (Full Recap) (Game 1 Box) (Game 2 Box)

WHAT'S THE SCENARIO? Coming down to the final week of the regular season, with the right series of events - which includes a Gettysburg sweep of Franklin & Marshall - the five playoff teams could be locked in by the end of the day with seeding being determined by Saturday's outcomes. The Diplomats need at least one win to stay alive in the playoff race entering the final day while the Bullets can all but lock up a playoff spot with two wins.

LAST TIME OUT: Gettysburg scored all six of its runs in game two in the final three innings to record a 6-1 victory after Washington (Md.) rallied with six runs in its final three at bats in game one for a 6-2 win on Saturday. Julia Smith led the Bullets with four hits on the day. Paige Forry started both games in the circle, throwing a total of 12 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. She went the distance in game two, allowing just three hits for the win. Lilly Cook led the Shorewomen with three hits on the day. (Full Recap) (Game 1 Box Score) (Game 2 Box Score)

20-SOMETHING: Six Gettysburg players have recorded 20 or more hits this season and three have reached the 30-hit mark. Audrey Bergan leads the squad with 41 knocks in her rookie campaign while seniors Julia Smith (32) and Giovanna Komst (30) have reach the 30-hit plateau. Lauren O'Leary is slugging a team-best .562 with six doubles, two triples and four home runs among her 28 hits. As a team, the Bullets have reached the 20-win mark for the second time in two seasons under head coach Brooke Kalman and can potentially lock up their second straight playoff appearance with a sweep this afternoon.

LAST TIME OUT: After dropping a low scoring battle in game one, Franklin & Marshall game two to split the doubleheader with Alvernia. The Golden Wolves won game one 2-1 before the Diplomats took game two, 6-2. (Full Recap) (Game 1 Box Score) (Game 2 Box Score)

ROLLING AT THE RIGHT TIME: Franklin & Marshall has won six of its last 10 games, including going 5-2 in conference play to get back into the playoff picture. The Diplomats dropped their first five conference game that included a 7-2 game-one loss at McDaniel on Apr. 13. F&M captured game two of that twinbill 9-3 before sweeping Washington on Apr. 16. The Diplomats dropped two at Ursinus last Thursday but then swept Haverford on Saturday, 8-0 and 10-6. The Diplomats currently find themselves two games out of the fifth and final playoff spot and need two wins this afternoon to stay in the hunt before playing Swarthmore on Saturday.