LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (22-12, 9-3 CC) outslugged Washington College (11-22, 1-11 CC), 24-16, in a wild Centennial Conference contest Friday afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Jakob Hoffman's grand slam in the bottom of the sixth not only gave F&M the lead, but the blast moved Hoffman into a tie with Scott Haft '05 for most home runs in program history with 14.

Friday's victory completes the sweep over the Shoremen in the home-and-home series.

After plating five runs in the opening frame, F&M went right back to work in the bottom of the second as it worked the bases loaded with one out. Spencer Berson ripped a single up the middle to plate two runners and extend the lead to 7-0. After Hoffman was hit by a pitch, a fielder's choice allowed Drew Butera to score from third. Pat Elliott roped a double into right field to score Berson for the fourth run of the inning. The next batter, Evan Varga, legged out an infield single to score Andrew Filippelli – giving F&M a 10-0 advantage.

Washington College chipped away at the F&M lead by scoring six runs in the top of the third, followed by a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Diplomats' lead to 10-7. Despite giving up a run in the fourth, the damage was limited by a slick diving snag by Tommy Denlinger at third – retiring the side with the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the fourth, Berson led off the inning with a single up the middle and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. A single from Filippelli scored Berson from second – giving F&M an 11-7 cushion.

The Shoremen came out swinging in the top of the fifth as WAC belted two home runs en route to an eight-run inning – taking a 15-11 lead in the contest.

The Diplomats got a run back in the bottom of the fifth as Butera was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded – scoring AJ Desautels.

Trailing 15-12 in the sixth, F&M once again loaded the bases with one out. After Bobby Falese was hit by a pitch to score a run, Butera drove in two runs on a double to tie the game at 15-all. The next batter, Berson, walked to set up the aforementioned grand slam by Hoffman to give the Diplomats the lead back. The blast was F&M's first grand slam this season.

Franklin & Marshall added onto its lead in the top of the seventh as Butera singled to score two, giving F&M a 21-15 edge. Berson then doubled to score Falese from second. The Diplomats' scoring was capped by a two-RBI triple off the right field fence from Filippelli to extend the lead to 24-15.

F&M was hit by a program-record nine pitches in the contest, with Denlinger reaching base three times via hit by pitch.

Berson led the Diplomats with three hits, followed by Butera, Desautels, Filippelli, and Varga each tallying two. Butera, Filippelli, and Hoffman drove in a game-high five RBI each in the victory.

Thomas McLaughlin (3-0) earned his third win on the mound this spring as he struck out two and didn't allow a run through three innings of relief.

Franklin & Marshall hits the road for a doubleheader at Haverford Saturday at 11:00 a.m.