CENTER VALLEY, PA - Matt Metsch (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) went the distance allowing one run on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts in nine innings in his first collegiate start as Franklin & Marshall College downed DeSales University 8-1 in non-conference baseball action at Butz Field.
Playing their fourth game against a 2005 NCAA Regional qualifier in three days following losses to The College of New Jersey (8-4 L) and Rowan University (7-2 L, 7-6 L 10 innings), the Diplomats jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Batting with one out, second baseman Rob Stern (So., Franklin Lakes, NJ/Indian Hills) singled and moved to second on a single through the right side by first baseman Pat O'Reilly (So., Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). The runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch by DeSales' starter Luke Pisker before third baseman Gary Kruger (Sr., East Islip, NY/East Islip) singled to right center field to score Stern and O'Reilly for a 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second inning as Scott Matejicka doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. John Pisker grounded out to drive in Matejicka to pull DeSales to within 2-1.
Franklin & Marshall and DeSales dueled from there as Metsch held the Bulldogs to three hits the rest of the way, while the Diplomats plated two runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to take the seven run win.
In the seventh, rightfielder Dan Hanecak (Sr., Conestoga, PA/Lancaster Catholic) singled to center field, stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher John Pisker. Following a ground out, catcher Billy McGuire (Jr., Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greeley) was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners before shortstop Tom Miller (So., York, PA/Central York) singled down the left field line to drive in Hanecak and move McGuire to second base. Centerfielder Eric Milavsky (Sr., Medford, NJ/Shawnee) singled to load the bases before Stern singled to score McGuire for a 4-1 lead.
The Diplomats put the game away in the eighth as Hanecak singled with one out, designated hitter Jon Compitello (Sr., Yardley, PA/George School) walked and McGuire singled to load the bases. Miller walked to force in a run and Milavsky reached on a fielders' choice as Compitello was cut down at the plate for the second out as the Diplomats kept the bases loaded.
Stern cleared the bases with a three run double and an 8-1 lead as Metsch did not allow a Bulldogs' player to reach base over the final two innings to earn his third win of the season.
Overall, Metsch improved to 3-0 on the season with a 0.59 ERA as he has allowed one run in 15.1 innings of work with two walks and seven strikeouts.
At the plate, Stern went three-for-five with four runs batted in and a run scored, while Hanecak finished three-for-five with two runs scored.
Franklin & Marshall (10-6, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 28 versus Ursinus College at Caplan Field in the Centennial Conference season opener. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
