SWARTHMORE, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (14-10, 1-1 CC) split its Centennial Conference (CC) opener at Swarthmore (12-10, 1-1 CC) Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats earned an 8-6 victory in game one before falling, 4-3, in game two.

Game 1: F&M 8, Swarthmore 6

F&M scored four runs in the top of the seventh, highlighted by a three-run home run from Bobby Falese to help the Diplomats out-duel the Garnet in game one.

Trailing 4-1 in the top of the seventh, Patrick Cettina singled and Tommy Denlinger walked to get two runners on base with one out in the frame. Spencer Berson ripped a double down the left field line to score Cettina from second, making it a two-run game. The next batter, Falese, rocketed his second home run of the season over the center field wall to give F&M a 5-4 advantage.

The Diplomats added some insurance in the top of the ninth as Denlinger and AJ Desautels reached base to setup Berson to single through the left side – scoring Denlinger from second. On the next at-bat, both runners advanced on a passed ball. Swarthmore's catcher tried nabbing the trailing runner at second, but the ball escaped the Garnet second baseman to allow Desautels to score and Berson to advance to third. A sacrifice fly scored the Diplomats' center fielder from third to extend the visitors' lead to 8-4.

Swarthmore scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but Thomas McLaughlin got the final out on a flyout to left field to strand the tying run at first – picking up his third save of the season.

The top three in the F&M batting order made big contributions in game one as Desautels, Berson, and Falese tallied two hits each. Falese led the game with four RBI with Berson close behind, recording three RBI.

Greg Nieskens (3-4) was the winning pitcher in the contest, striking out four and allowing two earned runs in 5.2 innings of relief.

Game 2: Swarthmore 4, F&M 3 – 8 Innings

The Garnet took a one-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning, but F&M battled back as the Diplomats got the tying run on second with two outs in the top of the eighth. Despite the late offensive charge, inclement weather in the area forced the game to be put in a delay. After about 30 minutes into the delay, the contest was officially called.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, Denlinger reached base on a fielder's choice and immediately stole second. After Berson walked, a passed ball allowed both runners to advance. A throw down to second by Swarthmore's catcher dribbled into center field and allowed Denlinger to score - tying the game.

Pat Elliott and Denlinger both reached base to begin the top of the fifth. Desautels singled to center field to score Elliott, giving the Diplomats their first lead of the game. After Falese walked to load the bases, Jakob Hoffman was hit by the pitch - scoring Denlinger and pushing the F&M lead to 3-1.

Swarthmore used a two-run home run and an RBI-single in the bottom of the frame to retake the lead, 4-3.

In the top of the eighth, F&M got the tying run on base as Conner Rush led off the inning with a single into left field. Nolan McCloskey entered the game to pinch run for Rush and immediately advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Elliott. After Denlinger drew a two-out walk, Swarthmore went to the bullpen as Desautels stepped to the plate. As the new pitcher was warming up, the game entered the aforementioned weather delay.

Desautels, Drew Butera, Rush, and Filippelli each recorded a hit in the game. Desautels and Hoffman each tallied an RBI in game two.

Kyle Roche (1-4) was the losing pitcher in the contest, striking out three while allowing five hits and four earned runs in five innings on the mound.

Franklin & Marshall returns to Caplan Field Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. to host Gettysburg for game one of its two-game series with the Bullets.