March 24, 2009
Diplomats Edge Shoremen, 2-1
Lutz Singles In Perret For WC's Run

LANCASTER, PA - Jason Anderson of Franklin & Marshall College hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning for the game-winning RBI as the host Diplomats downed visiting Washington College, 2-1, in a Centennial Conference baseball game on Tuesday afternoon at Caplan Field in the conference opener for both teams. The Diplomats improved to 8-7 overall and 1-0 in conference play with the win, while the Shoremen fell to 6-6 and 0-1 with the loss.

Anderson's sac fly to centerfield plated Matt Valente to put F&M up 2-1. Valente, who led off the bottom of the eighth with a double to left-center and advanced to third on a passed ball. The Diplomats had a chance to extend the lead, but left the bases loaded. In the top of the ninth, F&M retired Washington in order to preserve the win.

Washington jumped on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. Senior Greg Perret (Morris Plains, NJ/Bayley Ellard) tripled to right-center with one out. Perret would score on a two-out RBI single to right field by senior Doug Lutz (Pitman, NJ/Pitman) to put the Shoremen up 1-0.

The Diplomats tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth, when with two away, Nick Rolnick hit a double that scored Matt Will from second base. Will led off the frame with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

For the hosts, Will and Blue Wells each went 2-for-3 with Will scoring a run in the game. On the mound, Nick Markel pitched eight innings to chalk up the win to improve to 2-0 on the season, scattering six hits and striking out four. Chris Miller tossed a scoreless ninth for his second save of the campaign.

Washington junior Chris Smith (Catonsville, MD/Catonsville) was the hard luck loser and falls to 1-2 on the season. He pitched seven innings, allowed two runs, with just one of the runs being earned. He allowed seven hits and fanned two F&M batters. Smith faced the first batter in the eighth before being relieved by senior hurler Matt Swanson (Highland, MD/Mount St. Joseph).

The two teams complete the home-and-home series on Friday in Chestertown with first pitch schedule for 3:30 p.m. in Centennial Conference action.

BOX SCORE