HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (3-0) earned two wins over Hampden-Sydney (1-3) Sunday afternoon to complete the series sweep over the Tigers. F&M claimed a win in game one, 11-4, before downing Hampden-Sydney, 7-3, in game two. With the win, Franklin & Marshall starts the season with a 3-0 record for the first time since the shortened 2021 season.

Game 1: Franklin & Marshall 11, Hampden-Sydney 4
The Diplomats took an early lead, but Hampden-Sydney fought back with three runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to a run. The floodgates opened for the Diplomats in the eighth inning, scoring seven runs to secure the victory in game one.

F&M started the top of the first with Bobby Falese and Michael von Zuben standing in scoring position to set up an early scoring opportunity. Tanner Wolpert then ripped a single into center field to score Falese and put the Diplomats ahead, 1-0.

In the top of the second AJ Desautels singled, stole second and advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Desautels later scored on a sacrifice fly from Nick Lorenzo to extend the lead to 2-0. F&M continued its offensive success in the fourth as Nick DiGiacomo and Desautels scored on a two-RBI single from Conner Rush – giving the visitors a 4-0 advantage.

The Tigers used a three-run bottom of the sixth to fight back and cut the Diplomats' lead to one.

In the top of the eighth, F&M loaded the bases for Falese to rope a two-RBI double into center field to give the Diplomats a 6-3 lead. Following a walk to Michael von Zuben that loaded the bases again for F&M, Wolpert singled to center to score Nolan McCloskey and push the lead to four. After a walk to Matt Hollender made the score 8-3, von Zuben scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to six. DiGiacomo capped the inning by lacing a double down the left field line to score two – putting F&M ahead 11-3.

Six Diplomats posted multi-hit games with Desautels and Falese tallying three hits each. DiGiacomo, Falese and Wolpert all recorded two RBI in the win.

Bijan Anvar (1-0) claimed the win on the mound, striking out three batters and allowing no earned runs in five innings.

Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 7, Hampden-Sydney 3
The Diplomats jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, securing the sweep over the Tigers with a 7-3 win in game two.

After McCloskey reached on a fielding error and Falese doubled to start the game, von Zuben brought both runners home with a two-RBI single up the middle. F&M loaded the bases for von Zuben to score on a fielder's choice, extending the lead to three. A double steal then allowed Wolpert to cross the plate to complete a four-run first inning.

Franklin & Marshall began the top of the third putting two runners in scoring position for Rush to bring both runners home on an RBI-single into left field to extend the lead to 6-0. Hampden-Sydney chipped away at the deficit with runs in the fourth and fifth inning to cut the lead to 6-2. F&M added to its lead in the top of the seventh as Wolpert walked to lead off the frame and later came around to score to give F&M a 7-2 advantage.

Hampden-Sydney applied pressure in the bottom of the eighth, scoring a run to reduce the F&M lead to 7-3. The Tigers worked the bases loaded with no outs as Shane Rebane forced two groundouts and a pop out to escape the inning with the lead.

Falese led the Diplomats with three hits, while Gideon Schwartz recorded two hits in the win.

David McGeorge (1-0) earned his first-career win, striking out one in 3.1 innings of relief. Rebane was credited with the save, allowing just two hits and no earned runs in two innings. Peter Mullen was hit with a no-decision as he struck out seven and allowed one earned run in 3.2 innings pitched.

Franklin & Marshall hosts its home opener at Penn Medicine Park on Friday, taking on DeSales at 1:00 p.m.