Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Franklin & Marshall's baseball team defeated Washington & Lee by a 9-5 score in its season opener on the road Saturday, before a late innings rally from the Generals dealt the Diplomats an 11-6 loss in the nightcap.

F&M moved to 1-1 on the season while W&L, who received votes in the latest DIII National Poll, now sits at 4-5. 

In game one, F&M struck early when David Iacobucci drilled a two-run homer to left field that plated Kengo Kawahara and gave the Diplomats a 2-0 edge. 

Iacobucci followed in the third with a RBI double that sent Jimmy Whelhan home from second to kick off a three-run inning for F&M. A Dan Marano groundout, which allowed Kawahara to cross the plate once again, and a Reed Williams two-out, RBI single extended the lead to 5-0. 

W&L responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to pull within two, before Christopher Vincent singled to center field in the top of the fifth, driving home Iacobucci from third and making it a 6-3 game. 

Each team traded homers with Vincent registering a solo shot to left center that opened the seventh frame. Ahead 7-4 heading into the ninth, back-to-back RBI singles from Whelan and Kawahara provided a pair of pivotal insurance runs for the Diplomats. 

Iacobucci filled out the score sheet with a 2-for-4 effort that included three runs, three RBIs, and two walks. Kawahara tallied a 2-for-5 line with two runs scored and a RBI in his debut for the Diplomats, while Dan Marano (2-for-6) and Vincent (2-for-5) also produced multi-hit efforts. 

Starting pitcher Mike Androconis (1-0) earned the victory after tossing 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned while striking out three. Four relievers combined to finish out the contest, surrendering just one earned run in the final 3 2/3 frames. 

F&M held a 6-4 edge heading into the bottom of the eighth in game two before the Generals' offense erupted for seven runs on six hits and an error to pull ahead for good. 

Team hits belonged to the Diplomats at 13-12. However, F&M left 14 runners on base compared to just five from W&L. Iacobucci's hot-hitting carried over from the first game as the senior captain produced a 3-for-4 line with two RBIs. Whelan batted 3-for-5 from the leadoff spot with a run scored, and two batted in, while Marano went 2-for-5 with a RBI. 

Freshman starter Jonathan Cole was solid in his first career start, tossing 6 1/3 innings and allowing four earned while striking out five. Andrew Mascis was dealt the loss after allowing five earned in relief while Kenneth Hartzfield (1-1) struck out five in four innings to garner the win.

F&M faces W&L tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. for the final contest of the early-season, three-game series.