The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (18-18, 10-6 CC) picked up a pivotal 8-5 victory over Dickinson (24-10, 11-5 CC) to complete the series sweep of the Red Devils Friday afternoon at Clipper Magazine Stadium. The Diplomats gained the lead with a four-run sixth inning and never looked back as F&M looks to secure a spot in the Centennial Conference (CC) Tournament when it travels to No. 8 Johns Hopkins on Saturday.

Tied 3-3 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Nolan McCloskey launched a pinch-hit home run over the right field wall to give the Diplomats the lead. The blast was McCloskey’s second home run of the season. F&M continued riding the momentum as the Diplomats loaded the bases for Drew Butera to rip a two-out three-RBI double down the left field line to increase to lead to 7-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, Patrick Cettina walked and Spencer Berson was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with two outs. Michael von Zuben then poked a single up the middle to plate Cettina – extending the Diplomats’ lead to 8-3.

Dickinson scored two in the top of the eighth to cut the deficit to three, but Thomas McLaughlin shut down the Red Devils in the ninth to earn his conference-leading sixth save of the year.

F&M jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, starting the game with a lead-off double from Berson. The next batter, Bobby Falese followed with a double of his own into right field to score Berson – giving the Diplomats a 1-0 advantage.

Dickinson fought back with two runs in the top of the second, but F&M matched with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. With Berson on third with two outs, Hoffman doubled to left field to score the runner and tie the game up at 2-2. The next batter, Butera singled through the left side of the infield to plate Hoffman – reclaiming the lead for F&M, 3-2.

Berson led the game with three hits, while Butera and Falese recorded two each. Butera also drove in a game-high four RBI in the win.

Dan Galef (6-3) earned the win on the mound as he tossed three strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs in three innings of relief. Peter Mullen was hit with a no-decision in his start – striking out six and allowing three earned runs in five innings pitched.

Franklin & Marshall concludes the regular season in Baltimore on Saturday when it travels to play a doubleheader against No. 8 Johns Hopkins at noon with a spot in the CC Tournament on the line. The Diplomats need at least one win or a Swarthmore loss at Dickinson to clinch a spot in the tournament.

The game was played at Clipper Stadium. Click on the photo above for video highlights.