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LANCASTER, PA – Franklin & Marshall College starter Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) tossed a complete game three-hitter with six strikeouts to earn the 15th win and fifth complete game of his career as the Diplomats defeated Haverford College 4-1 in Centennial Conference baseball at Caplan Field. Knox, 15-7 for his career following the Haverford win, continued to climb the career records list at F&M as he tied teammate Ted Serro (Sr., Brooklyn, NY/Xaiver) for third place in career victories (15) at F&M, one win away from tying Bill Boyle ’95 and Tim Sheridan ’96 for the school record of 16. Further, he surpassed Todd Marshall ’92 (186 2/3) for third in innings pitched at the College as he now has 190.2 in 40 appearances with 22 starts, and ranks 10th in complete games (five) and eighth in strikeouts (125) as he is two K’s away from eclipsing Brian Moore ’79 (126) for seventh on the career strikeout list. The Diplomats gave Knox all he would need to record his team high sixth win of the season in the second inning as Pat O’Reilly (So., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) walked to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and moved to third on a single by Dan Hanecak (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic). Jon Compitello (Sr., Yardley, PA/George School) lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in O’Reilly for a 1-0 lead. Stephen Frederick (Sr., Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) followed with a single to centerfield to put runners on first and second with two outs before Tom Miller (So., York, PA/Central York) singled to right field to plate Hanecak for a 2-0 lead. Haverford scored in the fourth as Mike Primiani singled to right field and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt and error by Knox. Kenny McAlpine followed with a double to left field with no out to score Primiani for the Fords’ only run. Knox worked out of the jam striking out Tim McLean and Ben Einbinder swinging before getting Ryan Stephens to pop up to third base. Overall, Knox held Haverford walks in the fifth and ninth innings the rest of the way as the Fords failed to put another runner on second base in the game. Franklin & Marshall added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings as the Diplomats improved to 36-20-1 all-time against Haverford since the series began in 1916. In the seventh, Frederick doubled to left centerfield and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Miller before Eric Milavsky (Sr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) singled to drive in the Diplomats’ third run. F&M tacked on another run in the eighth as Corey Caruthers (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a one-out single up the middle by Hanecak. Compitello walked to load the bases and Frederick drew an RBI walk to force in Caruthers for the 4-1 final. The Fords attempted to threaten in the ninth inning as Primiani walked with one out, but McAlpine lined into a 4-3 double play to end the game. Travis Zier took the loss for Haverford allowing four runs on 10 hits and four walks with no strikeouts, while John Castronova came on to get the final two outs of the eighth inning. At the plate, Frederick led the Diplomats as he went two-for-three with an RBI and a run scored, while Kruger was two-for-four with his fifth triple of the season and Hanecak finished two-for-four with a run scored. For Haverford, Primiani led the way going one-for-three with a run scored.
The win keeps F&M a half game back of Johns Hopkins for first place in the regular season race as Muhlenberg lost at Ursinus 8-6 to fall into a tie with F&M for second place. Hopkins, which entered the day trailing Muhlenberg by a game, knocked off McDaniel 4-2 to go a half game up in the standings. Franklin & Marshall (17-8, 7-2 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 14 at Haverford in the final game of a home-and-home series. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
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