FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (3-9) erased a three-run deficit by plating six runs in the seventh inning to complete its comeback win over Skidmore (3-5), 8-6, Thursday afternoon in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth,
Jakob Hoffman led off the inning with a single. A groundout to the pitcher allowed the senior designated hitter to advance to second on the play. Two batters later, Hoffman swiped third on a steal and advanced home as the throw went into left field to get the Diplomats on the scoreboard.
Skidmore scored a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 4-1, but F&M responded with a big inning in the bottom half of the frame.
AJ Desautels and
Patrick Cettina were both hit by pitches to force the Thoroughbreds to go to the bullpen. After
Michael von Zuben walked to load the bases,
Spencer Berson singled up the middle to score two and get F&M within one. The next batter,
Bobby Falese ripped a single through the left side of the infield, scoring von Zuben to tie the game. Hoffman followed by lacing a double into the left center field gap to empty the bases and give F&M a 6-4 advantage. The rally continued as
Matt Hollender tabbed a pinch-hit single into left field to plate Hoffman and hand the Diplomats a 7-4 lead.
The Thoroughbreds added a run in the top of the eighth, but the Diplomats answered with a run of their own on an RBI-single from von Zuben to make the score 8-5. Skidmore had one last push in the ninth as a run scored on an RBI-single. However,
Dax Bush slammed the door shut for his first-career save.
Hoffman led the Diplomats with two hits and two RBI. Von Zuben followed with two hits and one RBI in the win.
Thomas McLaughlin (1-2) earned the victory on the mound as he struck out five and allowed one earned run in 2.2 innings of relief.
Dan Galef was hit with a no-decision in his fourth start of the season - tossing three strikeouts and allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings.
Franklin & Marshall gets set to play Merchant Marine Friday at 3:00 p.m.
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