F&M Moves to Seventh in April 3 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll

by Sports Information
4/4/06

LANCASTER, PA – Franklin & Marshall College moved to seventh in the April 3 American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll.

Ranked sixth on March 27, the Diplomats have opened the season with a 13-7 record, 3-1 in the Centennial Conference, as the team is hitting .312 and holds a 2.88 earned run average.

The team has been led at the plate by third baseman Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) who leads the team in batting average (.461), runs (29), hits (35), triples (three), homeruns (three), total bases (54), slugging percentage (.711) and on base percentage (.506) and second in doubles (four).

As a team, the Diplomats have 213 hits, including 31 doubles, five triples, seven homeruns and 275 total bases.

On the mound, Matt Metsch (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) is 4-0 on the season with a 0.48 ERA as he has allowed one run in 18.2 innings of work with three walks and eight strikeouts in six 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 4-1 on the year with a 1.64 ERA, a save and 21 strikeouts in 33.0 innings as the Diplomats’ pitching staff has recorded 122 strikeouts in 168.2 innings.

Ranked #3 nationally, The College of New Jersey leads the regional poll, while #6 Rowan University, #16 Kean University, #21 Johns Hopkins University, Rutgers University-Camden, Gwynedd Mercy College, F&M, Widener University and Pitt-Bradford University round out the poll.

Franklin & Marshall (13-7, 3-1 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 4 at Gettysburg College in Centennial Conference action. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.

ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (April 3)
1. The College of New Jersey (15-2)
2. Rowan (16-4)
3. Kean (16-6)
4. Johns Hopkins (15-3-2)
5. Rutgers-Camden (15-7)
6. Gwynedd-Mercy (13-8)
7. Franklin & Marshall (13-7)
8. Widener (16-4-1)
9. Pitt-Bradford (14-6)