LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (7-11) split its non-conference doubleheader against Rutgers-Newark (13-5) Friday afternoon in the Diplomats' home opener at Caplan Field. The Scarlet Raiders claimed game one, 15-0, before F&M responded with a 12-1 win in game two.

Game 1: Rutgers-Newark 15, Franklin & Marshall 0 (7 Innings)
Rutgers-Newark had 10 runners cross the plate in the sixth inning to propel the visitors over the Diplomats in game one.

F&M was held off the scoreboard in the opening game of Friday's twinbill, but the Diplomats had their chances throughout the contest. Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the third, Michael von Zuben ripped a one-out double into right field and advanced to third on a groundout during the next at-bat. However, the Scarlet Raiders forced a pop up in the infield to get out of the inning.

Still down by four in the bottom of the fourth, Conner Rush dropped a single down the left field line to start the frame. Nolan McCloskey then drilled a two-out double into left field to place two in scoring position. Despite the great opportunity, Rutgers-Newark escaped the jam without any damage.

Von Zuben ended game one with a team-high two hits, while Spencer Berson, McCloskey, and Rush each tallied one.

Kiernan Keller (0-1) was tagged with the loss – striking out six and allowing three earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched.

Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 12, Rutgers-Newark 1
Franklin & Marshall bounced back in a big way in game two as the Diplomats notched 15 hits to score 12 runs - securing the split in the doubleheader.

The F&M pitching staff was dominate in the victory with Peter Mullen (2-2) and Dan Galef combining for 16 strikeouts, which is one-shy of tying the program's single-game record. Mullen accounted for 14 of those strikeouts to tie Jonathan Cole '20 for the F&M individual single-game record. Mullen allowed just one hit and no earned runs in six innings to pick up his second win of the season. Galef didn't allow a hit through three innings of relief to claim his first save of the year.

The Diplomats got the scoring started in the bottom of the first as von Zuben scored on an RBI-triple from Bobby Falese. After Jakob Hoffman was hit by a pitch, Falese was brought home on a groundout to put F&M ahead, 2-0. McCloskey plated Hoffman on an RBI-single in the infield to give the Diplomats their third run of the inning.

The home team continued pressing in the bottom of the second as the first six batters of the frame recorded singles to score three runs in the stretch. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Hoffman to score and Drew Butera to advance to third on the play. That play would set up Evan Varga to rip an RBI-double into left center - scoring Butera and giving the Diplomats an 8-0 advantage.

The Scarlet Raiders brought a run home in the top of the fifth to break up the shutout. However, the Diplomats answered in the bottom of the frame when von Zuben singled through the right side of the infield to score Filippelli – making the score, 9-1.

The Diplomats final offensive push took place in the bottom of the sixth as Varga punched a bases-loaded single into right center to score Hoffman from third. An RBI-groundout brought McCloskey in to score – bringing the Diplomats' run-total to 12.

Desautels and von Zuben led F&M with three hits, while Butera, Falese, and Varga each tallied two in the win. Butera recorded a team-high three RBI, followed by Varga registering two RBI in the contest.

Franklin & Marshall returns to action on the road Sunday when it travels to face No. 25 York (Pa.) at 2:00 p.m.