HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (1-3) was edged, 5-4, against Hampden-Sydney (4-1) in Saturday afternoon's non-conference matchup. Despite a seventh-inning surge after a lengthy rain delay, the Diplomats came up just short of leveling the score as the tying run was left stranded on third. The hour-long rain delay also forced game two of today's double-header to be cancelled.

Down 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Jakob Hoffman drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by Ryan Rodriguez. A single from right fielder Pat Elliott and a walk to second baseman AJ Desautels loaded the bases for Drew Butera to slap a pinch-hit single through the left side of the infield – scoring Rodriguez. The ball was misplayed by the Tigers' left fielder, plating Elliott to get the Diplomats within two. Desautels and Butera also moved into scoring position on the error.

After a F&M strikeout, a groundout allowed Desautels to score and Butera to move to third. Despite getting the tying run on third, the Diplomats ended the game on a line out to right field.

Franklin & Marshall struck first in the game on a solo shot from center fielder Spencer Berson to lead off the top of the fourth inning. The homer was Berson's second of the season and the tenth of his career – tying him for sixth in the F&M career record books with Bill Murray '10.

Hampden-Sydney tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth with a solo home run of its own. The Tigers extended their lead with a three-run fifth inning and added their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the sixth.

Kyle Roche (0-2) was deemed the losing pitcher in the contest. The reigning Centennial Conference pitcher of the week struck out six and allowed four earned runs in 4.1 innings on the mound.

Offensively, Elliott led the Diplomats with two hits. Berson, Butera, and Evan Varga each tallied one RBI in the game.

Franklin & Marshall looks to even the series as they face the Tigers Sunday at 2:30 p.m.