HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (1-4) dropped the second game of its weekend series at Hampden-Sydney (5-1), 4-3, Sunday afternoon. The Tigers stunned the Diplomats in the bottom of the ninth as the hosts smacked a walk-off home run to win the game.

Franklin & Marshall got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning as the Diplomats put runners at the corners with two outs in the frame. Patrick Cettina took off from first to steal second, while the throw from the catcher sailed into center field. The throwing error also allowed Pat Elliott to score from third to give F&M an early 1-0 lead.

The Diplomats added another run in the top of the third as Drew Butera launched a solo home run over the left field fence for his first homer of the season.

Hampden-Sydney came right back by scoring runs in the third and fourth inning to tie the game up at 2-all.

F&M got back in control of the lead in the top of the sixth with a two-out solo shot from Elliott for his first of 2023. However, the Tigers once again answered in the bottom half of the inning by plating a run of their own to tie the game back up at 3-all.

Greg Nieskens (0-2) was hit with the loss in the game as he struck out seven, while allowing three hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings of relief. Dan Galef started the game on the mound for the Diplomats, striking out two batters and giving up two earned runs in five innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall returns to action next weekend as it travels to play three games in Salem, Virginia. On Saturday, F&M plays host Roanoke at 10:00 a.m. before battling Marietta at 1:00 p.m. The Diplomats wrap up the weekend on Sunday against Brockport at 10:00 a.m.