LANCASTER, Pa. – Kevin Shields hit a two-out single that scored Tyler Veterano for the game-winning run as Franklin & Marshall defeated Ursinus 7-6 in Centennial Conference (CC) baseball action Sunday afternoon.  The Diplomats have won eight out of their last ten contests and improved to 16-11, 8-2 CC.
 
Connor Devlin singled through the right side to start off the bottom of the ninth. Veterano pinch ran for Devlin and moved to second on a passed ball. Ursinus retired the next two batters setting up Shields for the walk-off single.
 
Ursinus (8-14, 5-5 CC) struck first when Ben Gresh hit a two-run homer to left field in the fourth at-bat of the game.  F&M got one in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 score.  Matt Will walked and moved to second on sacrifice bunt from Avery Attinson before J.T. Triantos hit a single to right center, scoring Will.
 
The Diplomats tied the game in second when Aaron Gillette scored Shields with a fielder's choice. The Bears put two runs across the plate with two outs in fifth and added one in sixth to take a 5-2 edge.
 
F&M responded with four runs in the bottom sixth to take a 6-5 lead. Mike Amabile started off with a walk and Russell Tischler was hit by pitch a batter.  Josh Mendelson singled to left field to load the bases and Zach Honecker worked a walk to plate Amabile.  Gillette hit a single to right field to score Tischler and a single by Will scored Mendelson to tie the game at 5-5. Devlin grounded out but it was enough to score Honecker and give F&M the 6-5 edge.
 
Ursinus used back-to-back singles from Rob Vogt and Gresh to start of the ninth. Vogt stole third and was brought home by a sacrifice bunt from Schnell to tie at game at six. Evan Lang came in the ninth to retire two straight and stop the bleeding for the Diplomats.
 
Lang picked up the victory and improved to 1-1 on the year. Nate Schnell was saddled with loss.
 
Honecker went 2-for-2 with a run and a RBI to pace the F&M offense.
 
Franklin & Marshall returns to the yard on Tuesday when the Diplomats host Washington at 3:30 p.m.
 
 
Franklin & Marshall 7, Ursinus 6 (Apr 10, 2011 at Lancaster, Pa.)
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Ursinus............. 200 021 001  -  6 11  0      (8-14, 5-5 CC)
Franklin & Marshall. 110 004 001  -  7  8  1      (16-11, 8-2 CC)
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Pitchers: Ursinus - Jake Kohler; Steve Christakos(6); A.J.Wright(7); Nate Schnell(9) and Kevin Wilson. Franklin & Marshall - Josh Gray; Eric Herbst(7); Brendan McCreary(8); Evan Lang(9) and Josh Mendelson.

Win-Evan Lang (1-1)  Loss-Nate Schnell(0-2)  T-2h 54m  A-232