DAVENPORT, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (10-5) split its non-conference doubleheader against Worcester State (2-6) Friday afternoon at the RussMatt Invitational. After the Lancers claimed a 3-2 win in game one, the Diplomats responded with a 10-5 victory in game two.
 
Game 1: Worcester State 3, Franklin & Marshall 2
The Diplomats erased a two-run deficit by tying the game in the fifth, but a Worcester State run in the bottom of the sixth was the deciding factor in the Lancers' game-one victory.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the third, Michael von Zuben singled and immediately stole second. After a fly out allowed the senior to advance to third, von Zuben came home to score on an RBI-single from Nick DiGiacomo to get F&M within a run.

In the top of the fifth, Nolan McCloskey ripped a pinch-hit double down the right field line to lead off the frame. Three batters later, a fielder's choice allowed McCloskey to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Eight different Diplomats recorded hits with McCloskey tallying F&M's lone extra-base hit on the day. Additionally, DiGiacomo and Matt Hollender both registered an RBI each in the contest.
David McGeorge (3-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season, striking out two and allowing three earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched.
 
Game 2: Franklin & Marshall 10, Worcester State 5
The Diplomats broke open the game with nine runs in the bottom of the third inning en route to their 10th win of the 2026 season.
 
F&M struck first in the bottom of the second as Hollender led off the frame by hitting his second home run of the season over the left field wall to give the Diplomats a 1-0 advantage.

The Lancers responded quickly with two runs on three hits in the top of the third. However, F&M started the bottom of the frame with doubles from von Zuben and DiGiacomo to tie the game at 2-2. The next batter, Hollender roped a single into left field to retake the lead for Franklin & Marshall, 3-2. After Owen Woodward earned a walk, a throwing error on the next at-bat allowed Hollender to score. Ethan Conklin singled up the middle to plate Woodward and Landon Hallett, giving the Diplomats a 6-2 cushion. F&M loaded the bases for a fielder's choice and a single to result in two more runs in the inning. A sacrifice fly from DiGiacomo and a single from Hollender capped the scoring for the Diplomats, giving them a 10-2 advantage.

The Lancers came back with three runs in the top of the fourth, but the Diplomats' bullpen allowed just three hits the rest of the way to hold onto the win.

Hollender notched his first-career four-hit game, along with driving in a game-high three RBI in the win. Conklin and von Zuben followed with two hits each on the day.

Garrett Stowe (1-0) recorded his first-career win on the mound, striking out three and allowing just three hits and no earned runs in 2.0 innings of relief. Luca Marshall started the game for F&M, striking out five and allowing four earned runs in 3.1 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall wraps up the RussMatt Invitational on Saturday, taking on Salem State at 9:00 a.m.