GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's baseball team opened up Centennial Conference (CC) play on Tuesday afternoon with an 11-0 loss to Gettysburg at Kirchhoff Field. The defeat dropped the Diplomats' record to 8-10, 0-1 CC on the year, while the Bullets improved to 15-3, 1-0 CC. 

An RBI double to centerfield scored a runner from first in the bottom of the opening inning to give Gettysburg an early 1-0 lead. Neither team's offense could generate a run through the next three frames until the Bullets tacked on to their narrow lead in the fifth with four runs off three hits to take a 5-0 advantage. 

F&M threatened in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Will Benenson and David Iacobucci to place runners on first and third with two outs, however the Diplomats' next batter grounded out to second, ending the inning. 

Gettysburg continued to pile on the runs, adding three in the seventh off a pair of singles before capping off the scoring in the eighth with three more runs off four hits and an error for the commanding 11-run lead. 

Drew Felsenthal (4-1) started the game for the Bullets and struck out six hitters in seven innings on the mound. Luke Lawrence finished off the shutout with a pair of innings in relief.

Starter Alex Guerra (3-1) lost his first game of the season for the Diplomats after going six innings and being charged with four earned. 

Benenson paced the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Rob Anderson, Iacobucci, Brian Erb, and Avery Attinson all picked up a hit. Third baseman Nate Simon went a perfect 4-for-4 to go along with three runs and three RBIs for the Bullets. 

F&M collected seven hits on the day and stranded eight base runners, while Gettysburg notched 12 hits that included five doubles. 

The Diplomats will get a shot at evening the series on Friday when F&M hosts the Bullets at Caplan Field. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m. in Lancaster.