Box Score HAVERFORD, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall's ninth-inning rally fell just short in a tough 6-4 loss against Haverford in Centennial Conference (CC) baseball action on Monday afternoon.
The Diplomats dropped to 15-18, 6-9 CC with the loss while the Fords improved to 20-12, 10-5 CC.
Trailing by four runs heading into the ninth, F&M mounted a comeback bid that began with a David Iacobucci leadoff single to right field. Luke Seib followed with a walk, and Mike Smeriglio singled to left field to load the bases.
Casey Bulik reached on a force out to second that sent Iacobucci home from third, and Christopher Vincent followed with a clutch RBI single to left field that brought the Diplomats within two. However, the rally came up short in F&M's next at-bat with a grounder to second that ended the threat.
Ahead 1-0 in the third, Haverford took an early five-run lead with a two-out Sam Partee grand slam home run to left field. F&M got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth when Iacobucci registered an RBI single to center field and Seib grounded into a double play to plate Matt Mezansky from third.
Iacobucci paced the offense with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate to go along with one run scored and one RBI. Mezansky recorded his 168th career hit with a 1-for-4 showing at the plate and is now just five shy of the program record.
Starting pitcher Mack Glavin (2-3) was charged with the loss, allowing six earned off five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings of work. His counterpart Justin Herring (6-0) threw five frames and surrendered two earned while striking out four.
F&M continues CC competition on Friday, hosting Haverford for its final home game of the regular season. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.
