GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (18-15-1, 5-9-1 CC) fell short in its late comeback against Gettysburg (25-10, 8-7 CC), 18-16, in Tuesday afternoon's Centennial Conference (CC) game. The Diplomats charged back from a nine-run deficit with one run in the seventh and six runs in the eighth. F&M got the tying run into scoring position with one out in the ninth, but the game was called due to darkness.

The Diplomats got its offense started in the top of the first as Tanner Wolpert doubled and Matt Hollender singled to put runners at the corners. After Gideon Schwartz was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Wolpert came home on a fielder's choice to put F&M ahead, 1-0.

The Diplomats continued its great start in the top of the third as Hollender led off the frame with a triple. A sacrifice fly from Schwartz allowed Hollender to score to extend the lead, 2-0. F&M got two runners into scoring position for Nick DiGiacomo to come home on an RBI-groundout from Landon Hallett for the third run of the game. Zac Fuscaldo followed with a triple into right center to put the visitors up 4-0. After a pitching change, Ethan Conklin capped the rally with an RBI-single into the outfield to give F&M a 5-0 advantage.

The Bullets climbed their way back with nine runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-5 lead. However, F&M responded immediately in the top of the fifth. Nick Lorenzo doubled, followed by an RBI-single from Hallett to get the Diplomats within three. After a walk to Fuscaldo, Michael von Zuben ripped a base hit through the middle of the infield to score Hallett and cut the deficit to 9-7. A two-out single from Wolpert and an error in the Gettysburg outfield allowed two runs to score, tying the game at 9-9.

The Bullets put up another nine-run inning in the bottom of the sixth to jump ahead of Franklin & Marshall, 18-9. In the top of the seventh, Wolpert gave F&M some momentum as he launched a solo home run over the left center field wall to trim the deficit to 18-10.

The Diplomats began to fight their way back again in the top of the eighth as the visitors loaded the bases to start the frame. A single down the right field line from Conklin plated two runs to get the Diplomats within five of tying. Two batters later, Wolpert lifted his second homer of the game over the right field fence to cut Gettysburg's lead to 18-15. The home run was Wolpert's fifth of the season and the ninth of his career.

The Diplomats weren't done yet as they loaded the bases with one out in the inning. A groundout allowed Hollender to score, getting F&M within two of tying the game. Franklin & Marshall had two runners in scoring position before the Bullets got the third out on a pop-up to get out of the inning.

F&M led off the ninth with Fuscaldo getting hit by a pitch and Conklin legging out an infield single. A groundout moved both runners into scoring position. However, the Diplomats' chance of tying the contest came to a close as the game was called due to darkness.

Wolpert ended the game 4-for-6 with a team-high four RBI and three runs scored. Hollender became the sixth Diplomat in program history to record five hits in a single game as he ended the day 5-for-5 and finished a home run shy of the cycle. Conklin and DiGiacomo both notched three hits apiece, while Conklin drove in three RBI in the contest. As a team, F&M registered nine extra-base hits in the effort.

Luca Marshall (1-3) was hit with the loss, striking out two and allowing six earned runs in 1.1 innings of relief. Kiernan Keller started the game, tossing three strikeouts and giving up four earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched. Tanner Lewis finished the game on the mound, striking out four and allowing two earned runs in 3.0 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall returns to Penn Medicine Park on Wednesday to host Lancaster Bible in F&M's final non-conference game of the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.