GETTYSBURG, Pa. - Franklin & Marshall fell to Gettysburg 4-0 in the Centennial Conference (CC) baseball opener for both schools on Tuesday. The Diplomats are now 11-8 (0-1 CC) with the defeat, while the Bullets move to 11-4 (1-0 CC).

Trailing by four heading into the ninth inning, F&M made one final push as they loaded the bases with two outs in the frame. Josh Mendelson led things off by reaching on a fielding error, before Blue Wells drew a walk to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Two outs later, Aaron Gillette also earned a free pass with a walk to fill the bags and keep the Diplomats alive, but Bullets' reliever Chris Yoda delivered a strikeout to preserve the shutout victory for Gettysburg.

F&M nearly got on the board first in the top of the third. Wells opened the frame with a single through the left side of the infield, and Alex Vescera delivered a one-out double down the line in left field, giving the Diplomats two runners in scoring position. However, Gettysburg starter Ryan Taylor followed with two straight strikeouts to escape the inning unscathed.

The Bullets then registered each of their four scores with two outs in the decisive bottom half of the third. Patrick O'Grady and Al Posch notched RBI singles, while Pat Cody tallied a two-RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0.

Matt Valente (1-3) pitched 5.2 innings in the loss. The senior lefthander struck out six and walked one, allowing four runs on eight hits. Andrew Green took over in relief and twirled 2.1 shutout innings.

Taylor (3-1) tossed eight scoreless innings in the victory for the Bullets. The lefthander fanned 11 batters, walked two and allowed six hits.

J.T. Triantos notched two hits on the day to lead F&M, while Mendelson, Wells, Vescera and Sam Gladstone each secured one hit in the loss.

Clint O'Brien went 3-for-4 at the plate for Gettysburg, while Cody knocked in two RBIs and Posch and Alex Freeman notched two hits apiece.

The Diplomats return to non-conference action tomorrow as they host Stevenson at 3:30 pm.

Gettysburg 4, Franklin & Marshall 0 (Mar 27, 2012 at Gettysburg, PA)
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Franklin & Marshall. 000 000 000  -  0  6  1      (11-8, 0-1 CC)
Gettysburg.......... 004 000 00X  -  4 10  2      (11-4, 1-0 CC)
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Pitchers: Franklin & Marshall - Matt Valente; Andrew Green(6) and Josh Mendelson. Gettysburg -
Ry Taylor; J Donovan(9); C Yoda(9) and C MacDonald.

Win-Ry Taylor (3-1) 

Save-C Yoda (1) 

Loss-Matt Valente (1-3)