HAMPDEN SYDNEY, VA -- Franklin & Marshall College's Dan Weber (Sr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) went five-for-eight at the plate with four RBI and three runs as the Diplomats opened the 2004 baseball season with a 6-4 win and an 8-7 loss in a doubleheader at Hampden-Sydney College.
In game one, the Diplomats (1-1, 0-0 Centennial Conference) rallied from a 4-3 deficit with a run in the top of the seventh inning to tie the contest and force extra innings.
Leadoff batter Chris Smith (So., Fairfax Station, VA/Robinson) walked with two outs and scored on an RBI double by first basemen Gordie Eck (Sr., Columbia, PA/Lancaster Catholic) to put F&M ahead 5-4 before Eck came across the plate on an RBI single by leftfielder Corey Caruthers (So., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) for a 6-4 lead.
Closer Pete Maki (Sr., Woodbury, CT/Nonnewaug) mowed the Tigers (3-5) down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth to finish off the game as F&M opened the season with a win for the first time since a 12-2 victory over Northwood College on February 28, 1999 in Homestead, Florida.
On the mound, starter John Walsh (Sr., Havertown, PA/Haverford) went four innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out four and walking one before being relieved by Scott Solomon (Sr., Birmingham, AL/Mountain Brook) after one batter in the fifth. Solomon concluded his day going three innings while allowing three hits, one earned run and a walk with striking out one before handing the ball off to Maki to start the bottom of the eighth.
For Hampden-Sydney, starting pitcher John Schoenholtz lasted four innings allowing six hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking one. Reliever Jayson Hankey allowed four hits and one earned run with a strikeout in one inning and Jason Burton took the loss with three runs (two earned) allowed in three innings off three hits and two walks while striking out two.
At the plate, Eck went three-for-four with three runs scored and a walk, while Weber went three-for-four with two RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Gary Kruger (So., East Islip, NY/East Islip) knocked in two with a two-for-four performance as the Diplomats knocked out 13 basehits.
In game two, the Tigers' Joe Knowles ripped a double in the bottom of the seventh to plate two runs and cap a six-run Hampden-Sydney rally in an 8-7 comeback win.
Trailing 7-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, pinch hitter Jonathon Vaughan got the Tigers started singling before centerfielder Chris Padgett brought him in with a two-run homerun off reliever Jeremy Knox (So., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep).
The rally continued as Jay Lilley and Andy Watts singled to put two runners on first and second with no outs. Lilley stole third and Mike Clark walked to load the bases and bring up cleanup hitter Josh Walton. Walton singled to plate two runs as Clark advanced to second base before being thrown out by Caruthers while attempting to advance to third.
On Caruthers' throw, Walton advanced to second and was removed for pinch runner Josh Davidson. Maki entered the game in relief of Knox and K'd Morgan Howell looking for the second out of the inning. However, Tommy Burk reached on an error by Smith that allowed Davidson to advance to third to put runners on the corner. Catcher Joe Knowles capped the rally with a triple to plate two runs as the Tigers scored six runs on six hits and one error in the bottom of the seventh for the victory.
On the mound, HSC's Bryan Mangas went 4.1 innings allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits with two walks and a strikeout to earn a no-decision. Reliever Mike Hall picked up the win throwing two two-thirds shutout innings of three-hit baseball with three walks and two strikeouts.
For F&M, Ted Serro (So., Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) lasted four innings allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks before being relieved by Knox in the fifth.
At the plate, Weber paced the Diplomats as he went two-for-four with two runs and two RBI while Smith went two-for-five with a RBI and a run.
Franklin & Marshall will return to the field on February 29 at Hampden-Sydney in the final game of a three-game road series. Game time is set for noon.
GAME ONE
Franklin & Marshall 1-0-0-0-2-0-1-2 -- 6-13-3
Hampden-Sydney 0-0-1-1-2-0-0-0 -- 4-7-2
E - Smith: Georgiou (2), Lilly, Denale; DP -Tigers 1; LOB - Diplomats 10, Tigers 8; 2B - Eck, Weber (2), Watts, Padgett (2); 3B - Burk; HBP - Milavsky; SB - Kruger
GAME TWO
Franklin & Marshall 0-2-2-2-1-0-0 -- 7-8-2
Hampden-Sydney 1-0-1-0-0-0-6 -- 8-13-5
E - Smith (2), Lilly (3), Clark, Burk; DP - Tigers 1; LOB - Diplomats 9, Tigers 6; 2B - Weber, McGuire, Georgiou; 3B - Kruger, Knowles; HR - Padgett; HBP - Walton; SB - Smith, Kruger, Lilley, Howell. CS - Eck, Walton
