READING, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's baseball team dropped a 7-1 contest against Alvernia on Sunday afternoon in non-conference competition, officially bringing an end to its 2015 regular season. The Diplomats dropped to 28-13, while the Crusaders improved to 32-12. 

Both teams hold a ranking in the Mid-Atlantic region with Alvernia sitting at No. 3 and F&M at No. 7. The Crusaders' ticket is already punched for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, clinching an automatic bid with a MAC Championship, while the Diplomats hope to have a resume worthy of an at-large bid. 

Tonight around midnight the NCAA is slated to release the full field for the upcoming regional tournaments, set to begin this Wednesday. The information will be released here. 

F&M fell into an early 3-0 hole after the first frame, when Alvernia scored on an RBI single and a two-RBI double to take the quick lead with a four-hit opening inning. The score held until the fourth, when the Crusaders added to their advantage with a one-out RBI single through the left side, plating a runner from third and making it a 4-0 game. An RBI single in the bottom of the fourth pushed the lead to five. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Alvernia tacked on, opening with a double down the right field line before a bunt single put runners on first and second with zero outs on the scoreboard. A sacrifice fly to center put one run across home plate, before a single through the left side later in the frame extended the advantage to seven. 

The Diplomats finally got a run in the seventh when Matt Mezansky reached on a throwing error, allowing Brian Erb, who opened with a leadoff walk, to cross the plate from third. 

Mack Glavin (5-3) was charged with the loss for F&M, allowing three earned off five hits in three innings on the mound. Alvernia had six pitchers combine to allow zero earned runs off six total hits. 

Left fielder David Iacobucci led the way with a 2-for-4 line for the Diplomats. The Crusaders outhit F&M by a 12-6 tally.