WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Franklin & Marshall baseball was stymied by Hamilton pitching on Saturday, dropping 7-2 and 6-1 to the Continentals (6-3) in non-conference action. Hamilton used early starts in both games to vault past the Diplomats (6-8), rounding out the team's trip to Florida.

Game One: Hamilton 7, F&M 2 (7 innings)

After F&M stranded runners in scoring position in the top half, Hamilton grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the bottom with a pair of RBI singles.

The Diplomats pulled one back in the next frame, working the bases full with two outs. An AJ Desautels walk forced home one, but that's all F&M could muster across.

Hamilton tacked on four more in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one away and taking control with a 6-1 lead. A solo shot in the sixth added one more for the Continentals.

Desautels helped the F&M cause in the seventh, doubling to left to start the frame, advancing to third on a Patrick Cettina single, then working his way home on a Will Samuel fielder's choice.

AJ Desautels finished 1-2 with a run, RBI, and a pair of walks.

Thomas McLaughlin (1-1) earned the loss, coughing up five runs in 1.1 innings. Charlie Wright threw a sharp 4.1 innings of relief, allowing two hits - including a homer.

Game Two: Hamilton 6, F&M 1 (7 innings)

Hamilton again took control in the early goings, knocking in four in the first two innings. A sacrifice fly in the fourth added another for a 5-0 lead.

F&M struggled to keep pace, with just a Bobby Falese single in the first as the lone Diplomat hit. An AJ Desautels single, followed with another from Falese to stick two on. Desautels crossed home on an error by the third baseman to trim the lead to 5-1.

Hamilton put an insurance run on the board in the sixth on a sacrifice fly for a 6-1 final.

AJ Desautels and Bobby Falese both finished with multi-hit games.

Greg Nieskens (2-1) gave up five runs in four innings of work to pick up the loss.

Next Up:

F&M returns home for its home opener against Lancaster Bible on Thursday, Mar. 24.