LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (19-14, 5-6 CC) defeated Washington College (18-14, 4-7 CC), 7-4, in Tuesday afternoon's Centennial Conference (CC) game at Caplan Field. The Diplomats scored four runs in the bottom of the first and didn't surrender the lead for rest of the contest - holding on to earn their 19th victory of the year.

Nolan McCloskey led off the game with a walk, followed by AJ Desautels reaching base on an error in the infield. The next batter, Bobby Falese belted a double into right field to score both runners and put F&M ahead, 2-0. Matt Hollender then tripled into right center, scoring Falese for the Diplomats' third run of the inning. Andrew Filippelli capped F&M's big inning with a single into center field to plate Hollender and extend the lead to 4-0.

The Shoremen got a run back in the top of the third to reduce the F&M lead to 4-1. The Diplomats went back to work on offense in the bottom of the sixth as Filippelli ripped a leadoff triple down the right field line. Vincent Mariniello recorded his first-career RBI as he shot a single through the right side of the infield to extend the lead to 5-1. After stealing second, Mariniello advanced to third on a single from McCloskey to put runners at the corners with no outs. Desautels followed by dropping down a bunt to score the first-year right fielder and push the lead to five. After a flyout moved McCloskey to third, the Diplomats' centerfielder came home to score on a wild pitch - cushioning the lead at 7-1.

Washington College responded with three runs in the eighth to get within three, but F&M held off the Shoremen to win the game.

Falese and Filippelli led the Diplomats with three hits each in the contest. Mariniello and McCloskey also recorded multi-hit games in the win.

Colin Mackenzie (3-0) earned the win on the mound, striking out three and allowing three earned runs in seven innings of work. Bijan Anvar picked up his team-leading third save of the year as he struck out two and didn't allow a baserunner during his appearance in the ninth inning.

Franklin & Marshall looks to go for the series sweep on the road Friday, taking on Washington College at 3:30 p.m.