DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (9-4) suffered its first loss of the RussMatt Invitational as it was defeated by Babson (4-6), 9-3, Thursday morning. F&M narrowed the deficit to two in the fifth inning, but the Beavers broke open the game with five runs in the eighth to put away the Diplomats.

Babson jumped ahead with a run in the top of the second, but F&M threatened in the bottom of the frame. The Diplomats worked the bases loaded with three walks. However, Babson got the third out on a groundout to second to escape the jam.

The Beavers added on in the top of the fifth as three hits led to two runs, giving Babson a 4-0 advantage. Tommy Truzzolino earned a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the frame. The next batter, Nolan McCloskey ripped a double into left center field for F&M's first hit of the contest as the Diplomats put two runners into scoring position with no outs. Truzzolino came in to score as Michael von Zuben reached base on an error, reducing the deficit to three. Two batters later, Matt Hollender put the ball in play on a groundout to score McCloskey to get F&M within two.

Babson grew its lead to 9-2 after five runs scored on four hits in the top of the eighth. In the bottom-half of the frame, Hollender homered over the left field wall for the Diplomats' third run of the game. The blast was the senior's second of the season and the eighth of his career.

McCloskey led the Diplomats with two hits, while Hollender recorded two RBI in the game.

Kiernan Keller (1-1) was tagged with the loss as he struck out six and allowed three earned runs in 4.2 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall takes on Worcester State Friday in a doubleheader with game one starting at 1:30 p.m.