LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall baseball team (6-3) was defeated by Susquehanna (9-3), 17-10, in Wednesday evening's non-conference contest. F&M took an early 9-1 lead, but the River Hawks responded with 12-straight runs to overtake the Diplomats.
Susquehanna grabbed a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first, but F&M came right back in the bottom-half of the frame.
Nick Lorenzo led off the inning with a walk, followed by
Michael von Zuben ripping a double into center field to put two runners in scoring position.
Tanner Wolpert singled into center to score Lorenzo and tie the game at 1-1. An error on a pickoff attempt to first allowed von Zuben to score and give the Diplomats the lead. After
Matt Hollender worked a walk, both runners advanced on another error on a pickoff attempt. Wolpert came into score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to two.
Landon Hallett capped the scoring in the first with an RBI-sacrifice fly to center as the Diplomats pushed their lead to 4-1.
The Diplomats' offense continued rolling in the bottom of the second as F&M loaded the bases for Wolpert to record an RBI on a ground out to extend the lead to four. Hollender followed with a single into right field to score two and increase the lead to 7-1. The next batter,
Nick DiGiacomo homered over the right field wall for his first-career blast as the home team grew its lead to 9-1.
Seven runs in the fourth and five runs in the fifth allowed the River Hawks to take a 13-9 advantage on the scoreboard. Wolpert responded with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the sixth for his second homer in three games as he narrowed the deficit to three.
After a 55-minute weather delay, Susquehanna scored three runs in the eighth and one run in the ninth to secure the victory over the Diplomats.
DiGiacomo, Truzzolino, and Wolpert all ended the game with two hits each. Wolpert also led F&M with three RBI in the game.
Mateo Sucre (0-1) was tagged with the loss, striking out one and allowing four earned runs in 0.1 innings of relief.
Colin Mackenzie started the game on the mound for F&M, striking out four and allowing one earned run in 3.2 innings of work.
Franklin & Marshall now heads to Davenport, Florida to play eight games on its spring break trip. The Diplomats start the week against William Paterson on Saturday, starting at 6:30 p.m.
