LANCASTER, Pa. – Franklin & Marshall dropped a 12-4 non-conference game against Elizabethtown Sunday afternoon. The Diplomats fell to 9-10 while the Blue Jays improved to 6-8.
Avery Attinson went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in to pace F&M's offense. Eric Bornstein and Mike Amabile both finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and Kevin Shields crossed the plate twice for the Diplomats.
E-Town scored early with a run in the first inning. The Blue Jays added a run in the third and fourth innings to go up 3-0. The Blue Jays added two more in the sixth and one in the seventh to go up 6-0. F&M got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Attinson's single plated Shields for the Diplomats first run on the game.
The Jays responded with a run in the eighth and five in the ninth. F&M added three in the bottom of the ninth, but the deficit was too much to make up.
Rob Cressman picked up the win for E-Town. Cressman (2-1) pitched seven innings and allowed one run. Josh Gray took the loss and fell to 1-2 on the season. Gray worked four innings and allowed two runs.
Back-to-back singles by Bornstein and Amabile got things started for F&M in the ninth. Shields reached on an error and Attinson hit a single to centerfield, scoring Bornstein, for the first run of the frame. Josh Mendelson grounded out to third, but Amabile was able to cross home in the process. Alex Vescera's sacrifice fly to right field scored the third and final run of the inning.
F&M returns to diamond on Tuesday when the Diplomats host Gettysburg at 3:30 p.m.
Elizabethtown 12, Franklin & Marshall 4 (Mar 27, 2011 at Lancaster, Pa.)
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Elizabethtown....... 101 012 115 - 12 15 1 (6-8)
Franklin & Marshall. 000 000 103 - 4 10 5 (9-10)
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Pitchers: Elizabethtown - Rob Cressman; Jake Hoffstein(8); Todd Leister(9) and Dillon Tagle. Franklin & Marshall - Josh Gray; Eric Herbst(5); Brendan McCreary(8); Will Colombo(9); Michael Morgenstern(9) and Josh Mendelson.
Win-Rob Cressman(2-1)
Loss-Josh Gray(1-2)