|
LANCASTER, PA – Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) went the distance striking out seven batters while allowing one run on five hits and no walks as the Franklin & Marshall College baseball team downed Ursinus College 5-1 in the Centennial Conference season opener for both teams. The Diplomats gave Knox (4-1) all he would need to earn his fourth win of the year in the first inning as the team plated five runs on six hits and one walk to go ahead 5-0 against starting pitcher Clay Miller. Following a 1-2-3 top of the inning by Knox, centerfielder Eric Milavsky (Sr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field and stole second base. Second baseman Rob Stern (So., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) doubled to left centerfield to score Milavsky and third baseman Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Leftfielder Corey Caruthers (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) grounded out to third base to advance the runners to second and third before first baseman Pat O’Reilly (So., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) doubled to right field to score Stern and Kruger for a 3-0 lead with one out. Rightfielder Dan Hanecak (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic) singled to score Caruthers for a 4-0 lead and stole second base. Designated hitter Rich Gallugi (So., Peabody, MA/St. John’s Prep) singled, but Hanecak was cut down at the plate trying to score for the second out of the inning. Franklin & Marshall finished their scoring in the inning as catcher Stephen Frederick (Sr., Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) singled to score Gallugi for the 5-0 lead and drive Miller from the game after one inning pitched. The teams settled into a duel between Knox and Ursinus’ reliever Ryan Smith as neither team scored until the Bears strung together an error and two singles with two outs in the top of the ninth for the 5-1 final score. On the mound, Knox coasted to his fourth win of the year as Franklin & Marshall (11-6, 1-0 Centennial Conference), the 2005 Centennial Conference champions, opened the defense of their crown by improving to 49-53-1 all-time against Ursinus (4-9, 0-1 Centennial Conference) since the series began in 1898. The game marked the second straight complete game by the Diplomats’ pitching staff as Matt Metsch (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) went the distance allowing one run on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts in nine innings in a 8-1 win at DeSales University 8-1 on March 26. Miller took the loss for Ursinus allowing five runs on six hits and a walk with no strikeouts, while Smith finished ouf the game with seven innings of four hit relief as he allowed three walks and struck out six F&M batters. At the plate, all but two of the Diplomats’ batters recorded a hit as Milavsky, Stern and Hanecak led the way going two-for-four. Franklin & Marshall (11-6, 1-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 31 at Ursinus in the conclusion of the regular season home-and-home series between the two teams. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
|
