LANCASTER, PA -- Gary Kruger (So., East Islip, NY/East Islip) went three-for-three at the plate, while Corey Caruthers (So., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) hit three-for-four to lead the Franklin & Marshall College Diplomats to an 11-5 victory over Swarthmore College in Centennial Conference baseball action at Caplan Field.
The Garnet Tide opened the scoring column in the top of the first as Wes Sconce drove a three run home run off starting pitcher Gordie Eck (Sr., Columbia, PA/Lancaster Catholic) to give the Tide an early 3-0 lead.
The Diplomats would answer back in the bottom of the first as Rob Georgiou (Sr., Tappan, NY/Bergen Catholic) got things rolling driving a one out single up the middle. Georgiou scored two batters later on a Tony Breslau (Sr., Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) one out sacrifice fly to rightfield that also moved Scott Haft (Jr., Jupiter, FL/Jupiter) to third. Haft scored on a RBI single by Kruger to cut the Garnet lead to 3-2.
After Swarthmore put up another run in the top of the fifth inning, Franklin & Marshall scored five runs as the Diplomats sent 11 batters to the plate to take a 7-4 lead. The Diplomats tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-5 lead into the seventh inning.
Diplomat reliever EJ Leary (So., Seymour, CT/Seymour) induced a pop up, a groundout and fanned a batter to send the game into the bottom of the seventh.
Franklin & Marshall received a chance to bat in the inning, but the contest was called due to darkness reverting the game back to a 6 1/2 inning game as the Diplomats improve to 10-6 on the year, 2-0 in Centennial Conference play.
On the mound, Eck pitched five innings allowing four runs on five hits while walking four and striking out five. Leary threw the sixth and the seventh striking out three while allowing a run, a hit and a walk.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on March 27 in Allentown, Pennsylvania when they travel to Muhlenberg College for a Centennial Conference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to start at noon.
Swarthmore 3-0-0 0-1-1-0 -- 5-6-0
Franklin & Marshall 2-0-0 0-5-4-x -- 12-20-0
LOB - F&M-12, SC-7, 2B- F&M - Haft, Kruger, Hanecak; SC- 0 3B F&M - Caruthers HR - SC - Sconce SB - F&M - Georgiou 2, Haft, Kruger 2, Caruthers, Compitello; SC - Pannorfi, Faeder
