CHESTERTOWN, Md. -- Bobby Falese's pair of homers helped power Franklin & Marshall past Washington in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Tuesday afternoon. The Diplomats (18-12, 9-2 CC) received another solid start from Dan Galef, who quieted Shoremen (18-12, 4-5 CC) bats across five innings.

Washington got on the board first, smacking a leadoff double, then plating him with an RBI single to left.

F&M answered in the third, putting ducks on the pond with one away. Falese reached first on an error to score Tommy Denlinger, then Spencer Berson scampered home on an error by the pitcher, giving the Diplomats a 2-1 lead. A Drew Butera sacrifice fly in the fourth added another for a 3-1 advantage.

Falese struck with his first long ball of the day in the fifth knocking a two-run blast over the right field fence for a 5-1 edge.

The Diplomats added another in the sixth, as F&M kept up the pressure on the basepaths, as Berson's steal forced an error from the catcher to score Tommy Denlinger from third for a 6-1 lead.

Washington narrowed the margin to 6-4, plating single runs in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

Falese's second opposite field dinger tacked on an insurance run in the ninth to push F&M to its 7-4 victory.

Bobby Falese finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while Pat Elliott also finished with a three-hit day. Spencer Berson finished with a pair of hits in a 2-for-4 effort.

Dan Galef (2-0) earned the win with five innings of work, allowing just a pair of hits and a run in the first inning. Thomas McLaughlin picked up his second save of the year, punching out three Shoremen in 1.2 innings.

F&M now plays host to Washington on Friday afternoon beginning at 3:30 p.m. at Caplan Field.