Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – Four runs in the top of the ninth inning ended any hopes of a potential comeback bid as Franklin & Marshall's baseball team fell to York by an 11-5 score on Thursday afternoon at Caplan Field. The non-conference loss dropped the Diplomats to 10-14, while the Spartans continued their torrid start to the season and now sit at 19-3.
Down 5-0 in the bottom of the third, F&M's offense began to claw back into the game when Tyler Daley opened the inning with a walk and Tyler Veterano followed with a single. Matt Mezansky got the Diplomats on the board with an RBI single to right before Will Benenson followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 5-2.
Right fielder Zach Levins reached first on an error by York's second baseman to score Mezansky from third, before Avery Attinson singled to right field later in the frame to score Benenson and pull F&M within one at 5-4.
F&M managed to knot the contest at 5-5 in the fourth when Veterano reached on a fielder's choice that scored Reed Williams from third. However, the Spartans reclaimed the advantage with an RBI double in the top of the fifth, followed by an RBI single in the seventh for the 7-5 lead.
The Spartans added some insurance in the top of the ninth when a two-run homer from designated hitter Derek Pitzer highlighted a four-run, five-hit frame to put the contest out of reach.
Eric Bateman started on the mound for the Diplomats and gave up five earned in four innings of work. Chris Mathewson (0-1) was dealt the loss after surrendering one earned off three hits in one inning of relief. Reliever Zach Philippi (1-0) earned the victory for York, tossing 4.1 innings of shutout ball out of the bullpen.
Mezansky paced the offense with a 2-for-4 effort to go along with one RBI and one run scored, while Attinson went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk.
Pitzer led the charge for the Spartans, producing a 4-for-5 line that included four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. York combined for 18 hits that included seven doubles on the afternoon, while F&M combined for eight hits.
The Diplomats return to Centennial Conference (CC) action tomorrow when F&M travels to take on Ursinus at 3:30 p.m.
