WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Presidents surrendered five runs in the final three frames to drop a 7-1 decision against Franklin & Marshall at Chain of Lakes Stadium in the first nine-inning game of the season.

Washington & Jefferson drops to 4-3 overall this year, while F&M improves to 6-8 on the season after the conclusion of its trip south.

The Diplomats struck first with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning off of W&J starter Joe Vita. Those runs held up as the only two in the game until the bottom of the sixth when a Josh Crummer sacrifice fly scored Michael Ruffing to make the score 2-1.

Vita surrendered single runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings, before reliever Tim Mulvey was touched up for three runs in getting two outs in the top of the ninth. Matt Heslin made his first appearance of the season in relief, forcing the only batter he faced to fly out.

Ruffing, Nick Vento, Ryan Sciullo and Zak Keesee recorded hits in the game for W&J, including the first for Keesee as a President after playing at NCAA Division II David & Elkins prior.

Vita dropped to an even 1-1 on the year after surrendering 11 hits and four runs in 8.0 innings, getting 12 flyouts and 10 groundouts in 90 pitches.

Eric Bateman (2-1) earned the victory for F&M, tossing 7.0 innings, while scattering four hits and seven strike outs.

The Presidents will be back in action on Monday, March 21 when they play Benedictine (Ill.) at 2:30 p.m. at Lake Myrtle Field 8 in Auburndale, Fla. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 19, but was postponed due to rain in Central Florida.