SALISBURY, Md. -- No. 5 Salisbury defeated No. 2 Franklin & Marshall 12-10 in non-conference women's lacrosse action Wednesday evening. The loss is the first for F&M this season as the Diplomats dropped to 6-1 while the Seagulls improved to 8-1.

F&M took an early 2-0 lead with goals from Paige Moriarty and Maddie Hughes a little over two minutes into the game. Salisbury answered at 23:13, before Samantha Blicht found Moriarty at 20:46 to give F&M a 3-1 edge. The Seagulls netted two straight and tied the game at 3-3, but Claire Jackson fed Natalie Delinsky at 12:27 to put F&M up 4-3.

Salisbury answered with three straight and went up 6-4, before Grace Saliba struck unassisted with under a minute left in the half to bring F&M within a point, 6-5, at the break.

The Diplomats opened the second with three unanswered scores to retake the lead, 8-6, just 1:29 into the final stanza. Moriarty fed Saliba for the first score and Jackson put the second point of the run through at 28:31. Anastasia Mergner found Moriarty 19 seconds later for the final point of the run.

Salisbury responded with three scores of their own and took a 9-8 edge at 22:19. Saliba tied the game at 9-9 with 15:19 left in the contest, but the Seagulls put three more on the board in a three-minute span for a 12-9 lead with 6:02 left to play.

F&M had opportunities down the stretch, but only managed a goal by Saliba in final six minutes of action.

Saliba had four goals to pace the offense while Moriarty finished with three scores and an assist. Hughes, Jackson, and Delinsky all had a score and Blicht, Jackson along with Mergner each had an assist.

Mergner, Jackson and Blicht all caused two turnovers to pace the defense. Mergner also came away with eight of the Diplomats' 15 draw controls.

Kaitlin Hardt took the loss with one save while Gianna Falcone picked up the win with seven stops.

F&M outshot Salisbury 25-19, held a 15-9 edge in draws and held a slight 10-9 edge in ground balls.

The Diplomats return to action on Saturday when F&M hosts Muhlenberg at 1:00 p.m.