AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A six-run fourth inning propelled the Franklin & Marshall baseball team to its sixth consecutive win on its Florida Spring Break trip with a 10-6 victory against Roger Williams on Thursday afternoon. 

The Diplomats improved to 7-4 while the Hawks fell to 2-5. 

Tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, F&M's offense, which exploded for 29 runs in a win against Stockton on Tuesday, once again hit its stride with six tallies on seven hits and an error.

Jimmy Whelan and Zachary Roberson opened the frame with back-to-back singles, before a fielder's choice and a Justin Cavegn single loaded the bases with one out. F&M followed with four-consecutive singles, including RBI hits from Tyler Daley, Dan Marano (2 RBI) and Christopher Vincent (2 RBI) to give the Diplomats a 7-1 edge. 

Roger Williams pulled within four on a pair of RBI singles in the sixth, before a Christopher Vincent RBI single in the bottom of the frame sent David Iacobucci, who led off with a triple, home from third to make the score 8-3 

In the bottom of the seventh, F&M tacked on two more runs when a walk, followed by four-straight singles began the frame. Iacobucci and Vincent both knocked home runners in the inning. However, the Diplomats failed to generate any additional offense with the bases loaded and no outs. 

Three Hawks' runs on two hits and an error cut into F&M's lead to four in the top of the eighth. Luke Bengel entered in relief with two outs and runners on the corners and forced a flyout to second that ended the threat.

F&M tallied 18 hits and drew four walks on the day, while Roger Williams managed 12 hits and three walks. Vincent went 4-for-5 from the cleanup spot with four RBIs. Iacobucci went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Daley, Marano, Roberson and Cavegn each recorded two hits. 

The top of the Diplomats' order was particularly dominant as the No. 1-5 hitters combined for a 13-for-23 clip (.565). 

Sam Ackerman got the nod to start and tossed three effective innings, allowing one earned off two hits to go along with four strikeouts. Reliever Blake Smith (1-0) secured the win with three innings of work, surrendering two earned runs and dealing four strikeouts. Starter Jimmy Smith (0-1) was charged with the loss after being tagged for six earned off 11 hits in four innings. 

Spring break competition continues tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. against Gordon in Auburndale.