HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (14-8, 2-2 CC) overpowered Haverford (7-13, 1-3 CC), 5-4, in Friday afternoon's Centennial Conference (CC) matchup. Matt Hollender highlighted the day hitting two home runs in the game to lead the Diplomats to a series sweep over the Fords.

Franklin & Marshall got its offense started in the top of the first as Tanner Wolpert kept the inning alive with a two-out single through the left side of the infield. Hollender followed by ripping a two-run homer over the left field wall to put the Diplomats in front, 2-0.

Later in the game, Haverford matched with a two-out two-run home run of its own to tie the contest up at 2-2.

In the top of the eighth, Tommy Truzzolino worked a leadoff walk and made his way to third on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. Another big two-out hit from Wolpert scored Truzzolino to retake the lead for F&M. Hollender added some insurance as he blasted his second two-run homer of the game to right field to extend the lead to 5-2. The home run was Hollender's third of the series and his team-leading sixth of the season.

The Fords scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to get within a run of tying the game, but Chris Keating and Kiernan Keller combined to get the final six outs of the contest and secure the win for F&M.

Hollender finished the game with three hits, four RBI, and two runs scored. Wolpert also recorded three hits, while driving in one RBI and scoring twice in the victory.

Luca Marshall (1-1) earned his first win of the season, striking out one and allowing two earned runs in 1.1 inning of relief. Kiernan Keller recorded his second save of the year as he struck out two and allowed just one base runner in the final inning of the contest. Chris Keating also had a solid outing in relief, working out of trouble and leaving the tying run stranded in the eighth. David McGeorge was tagged with a no-decision in his start, striking out six and allowing two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work.

Franklin & Marshall hosts Swarthmore in a doubleheader on Saturday at Penn Medicine Park, starting at 1:00 p.m. In addition to Saturday's doubleheader, the Diplomats will be raising money for the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. To make a donation, click here.