March 17, 2008

Box Score

LOS ANGELES - Whittier posted four runs in the ninth inning to hand Franklin & Marshall a 15-13 loss on Sunday evening. The Diplomats (2-4) held a 13-11 lead on 12 combined runs in the sixth and seventh inning, but a Lorenzo Lopez triple in the ninth cleared the bases, giving the Poets (9-8-1) a one-run lead. The Poets tacked on another run for good measure before the inning was out.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, F&M posted eight runs on seven hits to make it 9-5. Bill Murray and Mark Minutaglio each picked up a pair of RBIs in the frame. The Poets quickly reclaimed the lead with six runs on eight hits in the seventh making it 11-9, only to watch F&M go back out in front in the bottom of the seventh.

Eric Bornstein led off the inning drawing a walk. Leather magnet Dan Farnsworth then reached by being hit by a pitch for the third time. It was the second different pitcher in the game to plunk the Diplomats' backstop. Farnsworth got to second and eventually home on wild pitches, but not before a Matt Will single plated Bornstein, and moved Farnsworth to third. Rich Gallugi, who also reached via walk, crossed the plate behind Will on a Patrick O'Reilly double, giving F&M a 13-11 lead.

Jason Anderson took to the hill for F&M in the eighth, shutting down the Poets in order. F&M failed to post any addition insurance runs before Whittier went to work in the ninth.

The Diplomats got the first two runners on board in the bottom of the ninth, but three straight outs stranded the tying run on first base.

Five Diplomats recorded multiple hit games. Murray was 2-for-6 with three RBIs, while Will, Minutaglio, O'Reilly and Gallugi each picked up a pair of hits. Will, Minutaglio, and O'Reilly each drove in a pair of runs, while Will, Gallugi and Bornstein each scored twice. Farnsworth scored once for each time he was struck by a pitch.

Anderson (0-1) absorbed the loss for F&M, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings of work. All of the damage was done in one inning.

F&M is idle until Tuesday, when the Diplomats take on Wesleyan at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.