ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall erupted for nine runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a four-run deficit into a five-run advantage on its way to a 12-6 victory over Eastern in non-conference baseball action on Wednesday. The Diplomats move to 10-7 with the win, while the Eagles drop to 10-5.

After registering just three hits and one run throughout the first seven innings, the Diplomats poured it on the Eagles with a nine-run eighth that saw F&M bring 13 batters to the plate. Trailing 5-1 heading into the frame, F&M quickly loaded the bases with nobody out. Brian Erb notched a leadoff infield single, followed by back-to-back walks by Alex Vescera and Aaron Gillette.

J.T. Triantos and Will Benenson each earned free passes to first base as both were hit by a pitch, allowing Erb and Vescera to score to bring F&M within two, 5-3.

Kevin Shields then delivered a two-RBI double to left center to square things up at 5-5, before Benenson touched home after a wild pitch to give the Diplomats the lead. Andrew Conlan and Vescera each added RBI doubles in the inning, sandwiched by a two-RBI double from Patrick Andrews, to round out the eighth-inning explosion and give F&M a 10-5 lead. 

The Eagles tallied one score in the bottom half of the eighth, but the Diplomats pushed out to a 12-6 advantage in the ninth as Erb sent a two-RBI single to center field for the final six-run edge.

Benenson, Shields, Andrews and Erb each notched two RBIs in the victory. Shields went 2-for-5 and touched home twice, while Andrews, Erb and Vescera also tallied two hits on the day. Gillette and Conlan also scored twice as nine different F&M players touched home plate in the victory.

Brandon Kenish went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBIs for the Eagles, while Brendan Spall went 2-for-3 and also knocked in two RBIs in the loss.

Brandon Theriault (1-0) recorded his first win of the year for F&M, pitching the sixth and seventh innings. The freshman righthander gave up one run on three hits, while Paul Giulio closed things out by pitching the final two frames, allowing one run on two hits while fanning one. Brett Klatsky earned the start and tossed 4.2 innings for the Diplomats.

Kenish (1-1) suffered the loss for Eastern. He allowed four runs on one hit after facing four batters on the day.

F&M returns to action on Sunday as it hosts a doubleheader against Keuka in its home opener. Game one is set for 12:00 pm.

Franklin & Marshall 12, Eastern University 6 (Mar 21, 2012 at ST. DAVIDS, Pa.)
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Franklin & Marshall. 100 000 092  - 12 11  2      (10-7)
Eastern University.. 011 020 110  -  6  7  1      (10-5)
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Pitchers: Franklin & Marshall - Brett Klatsky; Chris Mathewson(5); Brandon Theriault(6); Paul Giulio(8) and Patrick Andrews. Eastern University - G. Moses; N. Moeltner(6); G. Lukasik(7); B. Kenish(8); K. Cortizo(8); B. Melendez(8); R. Chenault(9) and G. DeSarro.

Win-Brandon Theriault (1-0) 

Loss-B. Kenish (1-1) 

B. Kenish faced 4 batters in the 8th.

K. Cortizo faced 4 batters in the 8th.