LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (21-16, 7-8 CC) began the final week of the regular season with a 7-5 win over Gettysburg (27-10, 6-9 CC), a team receiving votes in the national poll, Tuesday afternoon at Caplan Field.

The Diplomats jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second as Nick Lorenzo singled to lead off the frame and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Lorenzo moved to third on a wild pitch, the sophomore came home on a bunt from Vincent Mariniello to put F&M ahead, 1-0.

Gettysburg responded quickly as the Bullets tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. In the bottom half of the frame, the Diplomats loaded the bases for AJ Desautels to work a walk, giving F&M a 2-1 advantage. Andrew Filippelli then ripped a sacrifice fly to right field to score Matt Hollender and push the lead to 3-1. A single from Mariniello plated Lorenzo to make the score 4-1. With runners at the corners, Mariniello swiped second, while Desautels came home on the throw to extend the lead to four.

After Gettysburg added a run in the top of fifth, the Diplomats went right back to work in the bottom half of the frame. Lorenzo singled and Desautels walked to put two runners on with one out. The next batter, Filippelli drove a double into left field to score both runners – extending the Diplomats' lead to 7-2.

Gettysburg rallied late with three runs in the ninth to reduce the deficit to 7-5. The Bullets got the tying-run on base, but Dan Galef worked out of trouble to earn his first save of the season.

Lorenzo and Bobby Falese each tallied three hits, while Filippelli led the game with three RBI. The Diplomats also stole five bases with Desautels swiping two in the win.

Bijan Anvar (4-2) earned his fourth win of the year, striking out two and allowing just two hits and no earned runs in 2.1 innings of relief. Colin Mackenzie was hit with a no-decision, striking out three and allowing two earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall goes for the series sweep Friday when it travels to play Gettysburg at 3:30 p.m.