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ALLENTOWN, PA – Centerfielder and leadoff hitter Eric Milavsky (Sr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) went six-for-eight with five runs scored and six RBI and pitchers Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) and Ted Serro (Sr., Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) became the all-time wins leaders in school history as the Franklin & Marshall College baseball team swept Muhlenberg College 9-2 and 10-5 in a Centennial Conference doubleheader at Cedarcreek Field.
Overall, Milavsky stroked three doubles and hit a three run home run as the Diplomats improved to 24-8 on the year, 14-2 in Centennial Conference play. The wins give Franklin & Marshall a temporary two and a half game lead in the Centennial Conference standings as Johns Hopkins University’s doubleheader at home versus Ursinus College was postponed for the second consecutive day due to rain. Hopkins entered the day a half game back of the Diplomats for first place in the Centennial Conference. In game one, Milavsky keyed the Diplomats’ offense as he went three-for-three with three runs scored and two RBI in support of Serro in a 9-2 seven-inning victory. Muhlenberg (15-16-1, 8-7-1 Centennial Conference) took an early lead in the game as Matt Tobia came into score on a bases loaded single by Eric Hammond in the second inning. F&M responded in the third as Tom Miller (So., York, PA/Central York) reached on a fielding error at third base, Milavsky walked and Rob Stern (So., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) put down a bunt single to load the bases. Pat O’Reilly (So., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) reached on a fielder’s choice to bring home Miller before Milavsky scored on an error by starting pitcher Paul Faith for a 2-1 Diplomats’ lead. The Diplomats added to the lead in the fifth as Milavsky singled through the left side of the infield and stole second base before scoring on an error at second base for a 3-1 lead. Franklin & Marshall broke the game open in the sixth with six runs on five hits and two Muhlenberg errors to push the margin out to 9-1. The Mules closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh with a run as Pete Oris singled to drive in Ryan Sassaman for the 9-2 final. Serro earned the win for the Diplomats going the distance while allowing two runs on nine hits, one error and three walks with four strikeouts. The victory marked the 17th of his career (17-8) as he surpassed Bill Boyle ’95 and Tim Sheridan ’96 for the school wins record. Further, his four strikeouts raised his total to 188 as he remained in third place on the career list, moved into a tie with Todd Marshall ‘92 for fourth in complete games (10) and moved to fourth in innings pitched (188.1). Faith took the loss for the Mules allowing nine runs on 10 hits, six errors and three walks with two strikeouts. In game two, Milavsky finished three-for-five with two doubles, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored as Knox and Andrew Sutherland (Fr., Huntington, NY/Huntington) combined to hurl a 10-5 win. The Diplomats never trailed in the game plating pairs of runs in the first and second innings and solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings to open a 6-0 lead. Muhlenberg scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull to within three runs of tying the game, but Milavsky hit a three-run home run in the eighth and Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) tripled to drive in Stern for the Diplomats’ 10th run of the game. The Mules attempted to rally against Sutherland in the bottom of the ninth scoring two runs on three hits, the Diplomats held on for the five run victory. Knox earned the win for the Diplomats going eight innings with three runs allowed on eight hits, an error and two walks with four strikeouts. The win was historic for Knox (17-7) as he moved into a tie with Serro for the career wins record and set a new career innings pitched record of 203.2 in 42 appearances, including 24 starts. His innings total erases the previous record of 202.2 held by Thomas Bachman ’78 to eclipse the longest standing pitching record in the history of F&M baseball. Joe Barrese took the loss for Muhlenberg allowing 10 runs on 11 hits, four errors and three walks with five strikeouts, while Mike Misciagna pitched a scoreless ninth. Franklin & Marshall (24-8, 14-2 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 26 at York College of Pennsylvania in a non-conference game. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
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