Franklin & Marshall Moves to Fourth in April 17 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Poll

April 19, 2006

LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College moved to fourth in the April 17 American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll.

Ranked sixth on March 27 and seventh on April 3, the Diplomats are 21-8 on the year, including 11-2 in the Centennial Conference, as the team is hitting .326 and holds a 2.69 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 (.459), runs (28), hits (51), triples (five), homeruns (four), total bases (78), slugging percentage (.703) and on base percentage (.504) and third in doubles (five).

As a team, the Diplomats have 321 hits, including 51 doubles, nine triples, eight homeruns and 414 total bases.

On the mound, Matt Metsch (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) is 5-0 on the season with a 1.05 ERA as he has allowed six runs in 34.1 innings of work with five walks and 15 strikeouts in eight appearances.

Starting pitcher Jeremy Knox (Sr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) is 7-1 on the year with a 1.83 ERA, a save and 33 strikeouts in 54 innings as the Diplomats' pitching staff has recorded 176 strikeouts in 244.2 innings.

Ranked #2 nationally, The College of New Jersey leads the regional poll, while #12 Johns Hopkins University, #20 Rowan University, F&M, William Paterson University, Montclair State University, Rutgers University-Newark, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and Arcadia College round out the poll.

Franklin & Marshall (21-8, 11-2 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 21 at home versus Swarthmore College in Centennial Conference action at Caplan Field. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.

ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll (April 17) 1. The College of New Jersey (23-4) 2. Johns Hopkins (22-4-2) 3. Rowan (20-9) 4. Franklin & Marshall (21-8) 5. William Paterson (19-9) 6. Montclair State (15-10-2) 7. Rutgers-Newark (17-12) 8. Pitt-Bradford (19-8) / Arcadia (20-10)