WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Franklin & Marshall baseball had a two-run lead slip through its fingers, eventually dropping an 8-6 decision to Amherst in non-cconference baseball action. The Diplomats (5-6) took a 4-2 lead in the third which held until the Mammoths (3-2) plated six late.

F&M kicked off the scoring early in the second, as Spencer Berson tripled to center to open the frame, then was driven home by Connor Rush for a 1-0 lead. Will Samuel followed two batters later with a triple of his own which plated Rush, then Samuel trotted onto home plate with an AJ Desautels single to right for a 3-0 edge.

After Amherst scored one in the top of the third, Spencer Berson lined a single through the left side that scored Jakob Hoffman, to push F&M's lead back to 4-1.

Both teams went silent in the scoring column until Amherst erupted in the seventh and eighth innings. After a double and single plated one, the Mammoths scored another three unearned to grab a 6-4 advantage. Amherst tacked on insurance runs in the top of the eighth for an 8-4 lead.

The Diplomats made a run at it, using a wild relief outing to their advantage in the bottom of the eighth. Tommy Denlinger was plunked to start the inning, made his way to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on another wild pitch, then scored on yet another toss past the catcher.

F&M pulled back one more in the ninth, again using a pair of wild pitches to score another. The Diplomats put the tying run at the plate, but a fly out to end the game finalized the 8-6 scoreline.

AJ Desautels and Spencer Berson finished with multi-hit games, as four different Diplomats notched RBI.

Jason Schulman punched out five and allowed a pair of runs in a 3.1 inning start. Stephen Turzai (0-2) was pegged with the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) in an inning. Zach Masnikoff and Bijan Anvar combined for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one run.

F&M gets back at it on Friday afternoon, facing TCNJ at 12:15 p.m.