FORT MYERS, Fla. – An eight-run first inning set the tone in a 9-2 victory for the Franklin & Marshall baseball team (2-8) during its non-conference matchup against Scranton (5-2) on Monday afternoon.

F&M had its offense clicking early as it loaded the bases to begin the game, setting up Jakob Hoffman to rip a single through the left side to give the Diplomats a 1-0 lead. After a walk to Patrick Cettina scored another run, AJ Desautels scorched a double down the left field line to clear the bases and improve the lead to 5-0. The Diplomats added a sixth run as Desautels swiped third on a steal and later came home on an RBI-sacrifice fly by Andrew Filippelli.

However, the first inning offensive surge wasn't over as Evan Varga walked and Ryan Rodriguez singled to put runners at the corners with one out in the frame. After Rodriguez stole second to put two in scoring position, Spencer Berson rocked a fly ball to deep right field. As Scranton's right fielder made a nice diving catch on the warning track, both runners tagged up with Rodriguez scoring from second base on the play – extending the F&M lead to 8-0.

In the top of the second, back-to-back hit by pitches and one walk loaded the bases for another RBI-sacrifice fly from Filippelli - bringing in the ninth run of the ballgame for the Diplomats. Scranton pushed runs across in the bottom of the second and seventh innings, but couldn't add anything else to the scoreboard as 15 Royals were stranded on base in the contest.

Desautels led the game with three RBI, while Berson and Filippelli each tallied two. Bobby Falese recorded three hits as he finished a home run short of the cycle. Rodriguez also picked up multiple hits in the win as he registered two on the day.

Luca Marshall (1-0) earned his first-collegiate win on the mound – striking out a career-best seven batters and allowing one earned run in five innings of work. Out of the bullpen, Colin Mackenzie registered four strikeouts in two innings, while Mateo Sucre kept Scranton hitless in the final two frames of the contest.

Franklin & Marshall now gets set to face Babson on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.