LANCASTER, Pa. — Rob Cressman pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one run to help the Elizabethtown College baseball team pick up a 12-4 win over the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats Sunday at Caplan Field.

The Blue Jays (6-8) wasted no time in getting on the board. In the top of the first inning, Andrew Gordon reached on a walk and advanced to third on a Steve Motika double. Gordon touched home on a Matt Reade RBI groundout to give E-town a 1-0 lead right off the bat.

Cressman took the mound and had to work his way out of a jam after allowing back-to-back singles in the bottom of the first. He ended the Diplomats' (9-10) rally by getting Eric Bornstein to ground into a double play.

From there it was smooth sailing for Cressman, who didn't allow more than one hit in an inning until the seventh when Franklin & Marshall managed two base knocks and one run.

E-town scored one run in the third on opportunistic base running when Ian Smith made it home on a wild pitch.

The Jays savvy base running also contributed to their third run of the game in the top of the fifth. Kyle Gable singled, then stole second and third. Gordon knocked him home on an RBI groundout to third.

E-town added four runs over the next three innings on a passed ball and RBIs from Gordon, Pat Mulligan and Kevin Berkheiser for a 7-1 lead entering the ninth inning.

The Jays were able to put the game out of reach by hanging five more runs on the Diplomats in the top of the ninth as E-town sent 11 hitters to plate in the frame. Gordon scored the first run of the inning on a single by Reade. A Franklin & Marshall error allowed Motika to score, and Berkheiser singled to center to plate Dillon Tagle. The onslaught continued when Smith got into the action with an RBI single. Finally Gable knocked in E-town's last run of the day with an RBI up the middle for a 12-1 lead.

The Diplomats managed three runs in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough as the Jays took the 12-4 decision. 

Cressman stuck out two batters on the day for his second win this season. Jake Hoffstein and Todd Leister finished out the game in relief for the Jays.

E-town's 1-2-3-4 hitters of Gable, Gordon, Motika and Reade combined for ten of the team's 15 hits. The 15 hits was the team's second highest total this season.

The Diplomats were led by Avery Attinson, who had two RBIs. Franklin and Marshall pitchers gave up 12 runs, only four of which were earned runs, as the Diplomats' defense committed five errors in the game. 

Next up for the Blue Jays is another non-conference test against Susquehanna on Wednesday. The game is schedule to begin at 3:30 p.m. at Kevin Scott Boyd Stadium.