GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (1-5) fell in its non-conference game at Messiah (3-4-1), 9-6, Thursday afternoon. The Diplomats cut the Falcons' lead to three by scoring three runs in the final two innings, but the deficit was too great to overcome.

Messiah got off to a big lead by scoring four runs in the second inning to take a 6-1 advantage on the scoreboard.

Trailing 9-3 in the top of the eighth inning, third baseman Tommy Denlinger led off the inning getting hit with the pitch. After Denlinger advanced to second on a wild pitch, right fielder Drew Butera singled to right center field to put runners at the corners. Center fielder Spencer Berson laced a double down the left field line to score Denlinger and move Butera to third. Butera later scored on a fielder's choice to cut Messiah's lead to 9-5.

In the top of the ninth, Patrick Cettina led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield. Denlinger followed by singling up the middle to allow Cettina to reach third. The junior scored on a sacrifice fly into right center field by Butera to make the score 9-6. Despite the comeback efforts, Messiah slammed the door by getting the next two batters out to win the game.

The Falcons scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first, but F&M answered immediately in the top of the second inning. With two outs in frame, second baseman AJ Desautels was hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Messiah's pitcher. Catcher Matt Hollender roped a single through the left side of the infield to get the Diplomats on the scoreboard.

At the plate, Berson and Hollender ended the day with two hits each. Berson and Butera each tallied two RBI in the contest.

Luca Marshall (0-1) was tagged with the loss in his first career start as he struck out two batters in two innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall now prepares for three games at the Roanoke Round-Robin this weekend. On Saturday, F&M plays host Roanoke at 10:00 a.m. before battling Marietta at 1:00 p.m. The Diplomats conclude the weekend against Brockport on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.