GETTYSBURG, PA -- Centerfielder Eric Milavsky (So., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) went four-for-five with two runs scored and two runs batted in as the Franklin & Marshall College baseball improved to 15-8 with an 11-7 win at Gettysburg College.
The Diplomats (15-8, 7-1 Centennial Conference) jumped on the board with four runs in the second inning as third baseman Gary Kruger (So., East Islip, NY/East Islip) homered to right-centerfield for a 1-0 lead. Outfielder Corey Caruthers (So., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) singled to right field and Dan Hanecak (So., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic) singled through the left side of the infield to put two runners on with two outs. Milavsky singled to right field to plate Caruthers before shortstop Chris Smith (So., Fairfax Station, VA/Robinson) bunted down the third baseline to plate Hanecak with an RBI single. Second baseman Rob Georgiou (Sr., Tappan, NY/Bergen Catholic) doubled down the left-field line to score Milavsky and close out the scoring, as the Diplomats never lost the lead.
Gettysburg (10-10, 3-4 CC) responded in the bottom of the second inning as the Bullets scored three runs on four hits, a wild pitch and an error to pull within 4-3.
However, the Diplomats exploded for seven runs in the third. Catcher Dan Weber (Sr., Reading, PA/Governor Mifflin) started the inning by singling up the middle, Kruger walked and designated hitter Scott Haft (Jr., Jupiter, FL/Jupiter) was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Caruthers singled to right field to plate Weber. Hanecak flied out to leftfield to score Kruger and Milavsky singled to right field to score Haft. Milavsky moved into scoring position as Caruthers stole third and Milavsky swiped second base before Smith flied out to right field to score Caruthers. Georgiou reached on an error that allowed Milavsky to score. First baseman Gordie Eck (Sr., Columbia, PA/Lancaster Catholic) singled through the left side to move Georgiou to third base and Weber slugged a single to left field to score Georgiou and move Eck to second base. Kruger singled up the middle to score Eck to close out the scoring as F&M held an 11-3 lead entering the bottom of the third inning.
Gettysburg rallied for single runs in the fifth and ninth and a pair of scores in the eighth for the 11-7 final as the Diplomats improve to 46-98-1 against the Bullets since the series began in 1893.
On the mound, starting pitcher Scott Solomon (Sr., Birmingham, AL/Mountain Brook) went six innings allowing 11 hits, two walks and four runs (three earned) while striking out three to pick up the win. Relievers Todd Cagwin (Jr., Fayetteville, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius) and Casey Dohme (Fr., Westport, CT/Staples) closed out the game going three innings while allowing three runs on five hits as the Diplomats kept pace with #1 nationally ranked Johns Hopkins University (21-0, 6-0 CC) for first place in the Centennial Conference.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on April 7 at home versus the Shenandoah University Hornets at Caplan Field. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
