COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Despite battling back from an early deficit, the Ursinus College baseball team fell to Franklin & Marshall 12-7 on Friday afternoon in Centennial Conference play.

The Diplomats (9-9-1, 4-2 Centennial) scored five runs in the top of the third on the way to the series sweep of the Bears (9-11, 0-6 Centennial).

Trailing 2-0 after one, the Bears scored three runs with two outs to take a 3-2 lead. The first run came across on a RBI single by sophomore first baseman Rich Guthridge (Schwenksville, Pa./Spring-Ford). Guthridge and senior catcher Chris Fusco (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) would later score on a RBI single by sophomore shortstop Brandon Sullivan.

The Diplomats would add five on in the third off of freshman starter Ryan Furlong (Douglaston, N.Y./Xavier). Ursinus got one back in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice RBI by Guthridge that scored sophomore centerfielder Ben Gresh (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove).

Ursinus, trailing 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, got two-runs on a home run to centerfielder by Gresh.

Ursinus added one more in the bottom of the eighth as Sullivan singled to left scoring Guthridge

Furlong took the loss for the Bears, falling to 2-2. He allowed seven runs in two-plus innings of work, while striking out one. Freshman pitcher Kyle Levocz (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) threw five innings in relief, allowing four earned runs and fanning two.

Gresh finished the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Fusco was 3-for-4, while Sullivan finished with three runs batted in.

For the Dips, junior pitcher Brendan McCreary got the win in relief of sophomore starter Josh Grey. McCreary, who improved to 1-1, threw three innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.

Sophomore first baseman J.T. Triantos finished 5-for-6 for F&M, with three RBI and two runs scored.

Ursinus will travel to Dickinson Saturday.