Franklin & Marshall Ranks Sixth in March 27 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll

by Sports Information
3/28/06

LANCASTER, PA – Franklin & Marshall College is ranked sixth in the March 27 American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll.

The ranking ties the 2005 team’s sixth place ranking in the May 19 poll for the team’s highest ranking since June 9, 1995 when the team was ranked #18 in the national poll and third in the regional poll.

The team has been led by third baseman Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) and second baseman Rob Stern (So., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) who are batting .444 and .429, respectively.

Kruger is tied for the team lead in runs (16) and ranks first in hits (28), triples (two), home runs (three), RBI (18), total bases (43), slugging percentage (.683), on base percentage (.486) and sacrifice flies (two), while rating second in walks (seven), third in stolen bases (five) and fifth in doubles (two).

Stern ranks second on the team in hits (24), doubles (three), RBI (12), slugging percentage (.482), walks (seven), on base percentage (.484) and stolen bases (seven), while ranking third in runs (14) and fourth in total bases (27).

As a team, the Diplomats are hitting .303 with 170 hits, including 22 doubles, four triples, seven homeruns, and 221 total bases.

On the mound, Matt Metsch (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) is 3-0 on the season with a 0.59 ERA as he has allowed one run in 15.1 innings of work with two walks and seven strikeouts in five appearances, including a six hit 8-1 complete game at 2005 NCAA Regional qualifier DeSales University on March 26.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) is 3-1 on the year with a 1.57 ERA, a save and 14 strikeouts in 23.0 innings as the Diplomats’ pitching staff has a 3.03 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 133.2 innings.

Ranked #1 nationally, The College of New Jersey leads the regional poll, while #8 Rowan University, #16 Johns Hopkins University, #26 Rutgers University-Camden, #29 Kean University, F&M, Widener University and Arcadia University round out the poll.

Franklin & Marshall (10-6, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 28 at home versus Ursinus College in the Centennial Conference season opener. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.

ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (March 27)
1. The College of New Jersey (13-0)
2. Rowan (14-3)
3. Johns Hopkins (12-3-1)
4. Rutgers-Camden (12-6)
5. Kean (12-5)
6. Franklin & Marshall (10-6)
7. Widener (14-2-1)
8. Arcadia (9-7)