FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (6-8) claimed its fifth win in a row as it defeated Wisconsin Lutheran (0-3), 15-7, in the first matchup of its two-game series. The Diplomats pieced together 19 hits, while only allowing six in the victory.

F&M put up four runs in the top of the first inning as AJ Desautels led off the frame with a single into center field. Desautels worked his way around the bases by advancing to second on a failed pickoff attempt and later stole third. After Spencer Berson walked, an error on the infield allowed Desautels to score, Berson to move to second, and Bobby Falese to reach base. Jakob Hoffman singled into right center field to score Berson and move Falese to third.

The hit parade continued as Pat Elliott singled through the right side to score Falese and move Hoffman to third on the play. Hoffman later scored on a groundout for the fourth run of the inning.

After Elliott legged out an RBI-single in the infield during the top of the second, WLC responded with two runs of their own in the bottom part of the frame. The Warriors later plated a run in the bottom of the third to cut the F&M lead to 5-3.

In the top of the fourth, Desautels singled and stole second to lead-off the inning. The second baseman came around to score as Falese laced his fourth triple in three days. The next batter, Hoffman, punched a single into center field to score Falese and extend the Diplomats' lead to 7-3. After Elliott walked and Drew Butera singled to load the bases, Tommy Denlinger singled into center field to score Hoffman. With the bases still loaded, Evan Varga singled to score Elliott - pushing the F&M lead to 9-3.

Franklin & Marshall's lead grew as it pushed across another four runs in the seventh inning, including an RBI-triple from Berson followed by a single from Falese to pick up his third RBI of the game.

Desautels led the game with four hits, followed by Denlinger and Varga each tallying three in the game. Falese and Elliott finished the contest with three RBI each.

Peter Mullen (1-0) earned his first collegiate win on the mound, tossing seven strikeouts and allowing just one hit in 3.1 innings of work. Mullen entered the game in relief with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the second inning. The first-year hurler proceeded to strikeout the first three batters he faced to escape the jam.

Franklin & Marshall completes its two-game series with Wisconsin Lutheran Tuesday at noon.