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GETTYSBURG, PA – Starting pitcher Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) went seven innings allowing five runs with three strikeouts to earn the win, and reliever Ted Serro (Sr., Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) went the final two innings not allowing a base runner with four strikeouts as the Franklin & Marshall College baseball team handled Gettysburg College 6-5 in Centennial Conference action at Kirchoff Field. Tied 5-5 in the seventh inning, the Diplomats (14-7, 4-1 Centennial Conference) plated the winning run as catcher Stephen Frederick (Sr., Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) singled to right centerfield and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Tom Miller (So., York, PA/Central York) and a ground out back to the mound by centerfielder Eric Milavsky (Sr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee). Second baseman Rob Stern (So., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) drove in Frederick as he roped a triple down the right field line to give Knox and Serro all they need to close out the Bullets (10-14, 2-3 Centennial Conference). The run capped off a comeback by the Diplomats as Gettysburg scored three times in the second inning and twice in the third to take a 5-0 lead. Gettysburg jumped on the scoreboard with one out in the second as catcher Brendan McDonald homered to right field before second baseman Dave Olson doubled down the left field line and scored on an RBI single by Mark Campo to centerfield for a 2-0 lead. The lead expanded to 3-0 as shortstop Scott Vladyka doubled to center field to move Olson to third and rightfielder Sean McGee grounded out to drive in Olson. The Bullets tacked on a pair of runs in the third as first baseman Joe Bonyai singled to centerfield and advanced to third on a two out single by McDonald to put runners on the corners. Gettysburg plated their fourth run on a double steal as McDonald swiped second and Bonyai took home, while McDonald came into score on an RBI single by Olson to give starting pitcher Tobin Whitman a 5-0 lead. Franklin & Marshall erased the lead in the fourth inning as the Diplomats rallied to tie the game with five runs on four hits and two errors. Third baseman Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) led off the inning by reaching of a fielding error by Vladyka at shortstop and moved to third on a double down the right field line by first baseman Pat O’Reilly (So., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). Leftfielder Corey Caruthers (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) lined a double down the left field line to score Kruger and O’Reilly. Rightfielder Dan Hanecak (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic) reached base and advanced to second base on a dropped fly ball by McGee in right field to put runners on second and third with no outs. Designated hitter Jon Compitello (Sr., Yardley, PA/George School) doubled to right field to score Caruthers and O’Reilly and scored on an RBI single by Frederick down the left field line to knot the game at 5-5. Gettysburg threatened to retake the lead in the sixth as Campo doubled to left centerfield and advanced to third on a ground out. Facing McGee with two outs, Knox fanned the Bullets’ leadoff hitter to keep Gettysburg from scoring and set up Stern’s game-winning triple. Serro finished off the game fanning four batters in a row and getting pinch hitter Matt Stillitano to ground out to second base to end the game as the Diplomats recorded their 14th win of the season. Compitello led the Diplomats at the plate going two-for-three with two RBI and a run scored, while Caruthers finished two-for-four with two RBI and a run scored. For Gettysburg, Bonyai finished three-for-four with a run scored to key the Bullets, while Whitman took the loss allowing six runs on nine hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.
Franklin & Marshall (14-7, 4-1 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 7 at home versus Gettysburg in the finale of a home-and-home conference series with the Bullets. Game one is set for 3:30 p.m.
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