LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (5-1) split its non-conference doubleheader against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) (2-2) at Penn Medicine Park on Saturday. The Diplomats run-ruled the Tigers, 10-0, in seven innings in game one before suffering their first loss of the season in game two, 12-10.
 
Game 1: Franklin & Marshall 10, RIT 0 (7 Innings)
The Diplomats jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after two innings of play. After holding RIT to just three hits in the game, F&M plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the run-rule victory.

AJ Desautels led off the bottom of the first by reaching on a fielding error in the infield, followed by a double from Bobby Falese to put two runners in scoring position. Two batters later, Tanner Wolpert cleared the bases with a no-doubt home run over the right field wall for his second blast of the season – giving F&M a 3-0 cushion.

F&M picked up right where it left off in the bottom of the second as Matt Hollender cleared the right field fence with his second career home run. The Diplomats continued the frame by recording three-consecutive singles to load the bases for Wolpert to rip a three-RBI double into left field to give F&M a 7-0 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Wolpert continued his impressive game by doubling down the left field line to lead off the inning. A single from Nick DiGiacomo scored Wolpert for the Diplomats' eighth run of the game. After a walk to Nick Lorenzo, Hollender doubled into left field to score both runners and complete the run-rule victory.

The win marked the first shutout-victory for F&M since April of the 2022 season, where the Diplomats defeated Gettysburg, 11-0.

Wolpert led the game with three hits and six RBI, while Hollender tallied two hits and three RBI.

Bijan Anvar (2-0) had a dominant outing on the mound, striking out six and allowing just three hits and no earned runs in six innings pitched. Sebastian Holl recorded one strikeout and didn't allow any hits or runs during his one inning of relief.
 
Game 2: RIT 12, Franklin & Marshall 10
Franklin & Marshall fell in the second game of the doubleheader, 12-10, for its first loss of the 2025 season. F&M led 9-0 through five innings of play, but free bases plagued the Diplomats the rest of the way as 13 walks in the final three innings allowed the Tigers to come back in the contest.

In the bottom of the first, F&M worked two runners into scoring position for Wolpert to rope an RBI-single into right field to put the Diplomats ahead, 1-0. DiGiacomo then doubled to right field to add another run and push the lead to 2-0. After Wolpert scored on a sacrifice fly from Lorenzo to extend the lead to three, Andrew Filippelli single to center to score DiGiacomo to give F&M a 4-0 advantage. Troy Repaci capped the inning by ripping an RBI-single up the middle to grow the lead to 5-0.

F&M continued its great start in the bottom of the second as Falese singled and stole second to lead off the frame. Wolpert brought Falese home two batters later on an RBI-single for the Diplomats' sixth run. Franklin & Marshall loaded the bases for Filippelli to lace a double into right field, scoring two and extending the lead to 8-0. An RBI-groundout from Gideon Schwartz scored Ryan Rodriguez to push the F&M lead to 9-0.

RIT fought back with one run in the sixth and eight runs in the seventh to tie the game at 9-9.

In the bottom of the seventh, Schwartz led off the frame by reaching on an error and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt from Repaci. Two batters later, Falese hit a triple off the left field wall to regain the lead for the Diplomats, 10-9.

RIT answered with one run in the eighth and two runs in the ninth to complete the comeback win over the Diplomats.

Five Diplomats tallied multi-hit games, while Filippelli led the team with three RBI.

Shane Rebane (0-1) was tagged with the loss, allowing two earned runs in one inning of relief. Peter Mullen started the game and earned a no-decision, striking out six and allowing one earned run in 5.2 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall completes its three-game series with RIT on Sunday at noon.