Box Score Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Fourteen Franklin & Marshall batters recorded a hit, seven innings saw the Diplomats score a run, including a total of 11 in the eighth, and F&M tallied nine extra-base hits during a timely offensive display that resulted in a 26-12 bashing of Ursinus on Friday afternoon.
The Centennial Conference (CC) rout improved F&M to 10-11-2, 4-3-1 CC on the season while the Bears fell to 8-12-1, 3-4-1 CC.
The 26 runs marked the most for the Diplomats since a 29-15 bashing of Stockton on March 14, 2017.
Centerfielder Kengo Kawahara stood out amongst a loaded F&M box score, as the senior notched a 4-for-5 line with a home run and two doubles while adding four runs scored and four RBIs.
Freshman J.J. Freeman was 2-for-7 with three runs scored and three RBIs, first baseman Dan Marano totaled a 3-for-4 effort with two runs scored and third baseman Max Schwartz put together a 3-for-6 line with three runs scored and one batted in.
Justin Cavegn, Jimmy Whelan, and Danny Blugis all registered a pair of hits.
Kelsey Launi opened the onslaught with a two-out, three-run homer in the top of the first inning – good for the first of his career. Matt Devlin also went yard after playing a role in the eighth inning's 11-run barrage, tallying his first career homer- a grand slam to right center that capped off an eight-hit frame for the Diplomats.
The game was placed out of reach in the early going after F&M recorded three runs in the first, four in the third and three in the fourth for an 11-2 lead that held throughout.
Starting pitcher Mike Androconis (2-1) earned the win after tossing five innings, allowing three earned on five hits and striking out five. Ursinus was forced to march out nine relievers to the mound after starter David Drea (2-4) surrendered three earned in 2 1/3 to garner the loss.
The Diplomats are set to host Swarthmore tomorrow at Caplan Field for a Centennial doubleheader that begins at 12:00 p.m. Saturday's matchup figures to be a key one as the Garnet sit atop the Conference standings with six straight wins and a 20-6, 7-1 CC mark.
