LANCASTER, PA - Pitcher Jeremy Knox (Jr., Bronx, NY/Iona Prep) threw seven innings, while designated hitter Pat O'Reilly (Fr., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) recorded a homerun and a two run single for three runs batted in to lead the Diplomats to a 10-6 victory over visiting Messiah College at Caplan Field.

After a one-two-three top of the first inning, the Diplomats cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the inning as Gary Kruger (Jr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) and Corey Caruthers (Jr., Conestoga, PA/Penn Manor) each walked and advanced on a double steal before Jon Compitello (Jr., Yardley, PA/George School) drove a 2-1 pitch over the right centerfield fence to take a 3-0 lead.

Messiah bounced back to score a run in the top of the second then scored two in the top of the third as Peter Godino led the inning off with a double before Craig Mease walked. Godino then scored on a Tyler Hollenbach single that advanced Mease to third. Mease later scored on an RBI single by Andrew Bagley to tie the game at 3-3.

In the fifth inning after consecutive ground ball outs to third, O'Reilly drove a pitch over the rightfield fence for a 4-3 lead. Rob Stern (Fr., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) then reached on an error and stole second base before Kruger drove him in with an RBI single for a 5-3 lead. One pitch later, Kruger stole second and scored on a Caruthers single into leftfield for a 6-3 advantage.

The Falcons answered back in the top of the sixth as Peter Dyson led the inning off with a single then scored two batters later as Josh Clabough hit a two run homerun over the leftfield fence to cut the Diplomats lead to 6-5. Godino then walked before Mease drove him in on a RBI triple to knot the score at 6-6.

However, Knox and reliever Matt Kalos (Fr., Melrose Park, PA/Cheltenham) grounded the Falcons the rest of the way, while F&M posted two in the bottom of the sixth as O'Reilly drove in Stephen Frederick (Jr., Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) and Eric Milavsky (Jr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) for the winning margin. The Diplomats tacked on two more insurance runs in the seventh for the 10-6 victory.

On the hill, Knox threw seven innings allowing six runs on nine hits, striking out seven and walking three for the win, while Matt Kalos (Fr., Melrose Park, PA/Cheltenham) pitched the eighth and ninth giving up a hit and striking out one.

For Messiah, Jeremy Stoltzfus allowed eight runs in five and third innings to take the loss, while Matt Gorkos went inning and a third innings allowing two runs and Shaffer pitched the eighth inning.

Franklin & Marshall College (3-8, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will return to the diamond on March 23 when they place host to #1 nationally ranked Rowan University. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.