Franklin and Marshall slides past Gettysburg 3-2: Diplomats’ pitcher Mike Androconis outduels former teammate and fellow pitcher Brad DeMartino
By Sean Brower, Staff Writer
Sophomore Logan Sneed went 3-for-4 in the Bullets matchup against the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats.
Sophomore pitcher Mike Androconis pitched seven strong innings and led the Franklin and Marshall Diplomats to a 3-2 victory over his high school teammate Brad DeMartino and the Bullets on April 8.
“It was a close game the entire way, so I just kept trying to keep our team in it…I’m not down on myself. It was a great game, so I can’t be sad about that,” said DeMartino, who pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. The Diplomats opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, when senior third baseman Matt Mezansky singled to right field to drive in junior center fielder Tyler Daley.
But the Bullets fought back in the top of the second. Senior first baseman Henry Klimowicz led off with a single to left field. Two batters later, senior second baseman Steve Wright poked a double to left to drive him in.
In the bottom of the fourth, F&M senior first baseman Luke Seib reached on a fielder’s choice. Junior shortstop Reed Williams poked a single to left to bring him home, putting the Diplomats ahead 2-1.
The score remained unchanged, until the top of the eighth. Sophomore third baseman Logan Sneed, who led the team with three hits, led off the frame with a double down the left field line. A single by junior catcher Will Anderson to push Sneed to third knocked Androconis out of the game.
Senior Gareth Fancher relieved him and allowed Sneed to score two batters later, on a single to right by senior right fielder Andy Kelley. However, Wright then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat.
Gettysburg threatened throughout the game. Their best scoring opportunities came in the top of the third and fifth. In both frames, senior center fielder Luke Lawrence led off, walked, and advanced to second on singles by Sneed. Their efforts would be wasted, leading to seven men being stranded before the game ended.
The Bullets’ inabilities to capitalize cost them late. In the bottom of the eighth with one out, junior second baseman Casey Bulik doubled down the left field line. Junior Rich Power then relieved DeMartino.
The fatal blow then came on a line drive off the bat of senior right fielder and Lawrence’s former Little League teammate David Iacobucci. Kelley appeared to have the ball lined up, but it went by him by inches. Bulik scored and the Diplomats led 3-2.
Gettysburg attempted a comeback in the top of the ninth. With one out, junior Connor Tom pinch hit for senior left fielder Shawn Moffitt and worked a walk. However, the next batter and pinch hitter for junior shortstop John Convery, Jack Seibert, grounded into a double play to end the game.
“[Pitching against Androconis] was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it. It was definitely one of the better games of the year,” said DeMartino. The Bullets return to Kirchoff Field on Friday, April 12. Come support the team, as they take on the Dickinson College Red Devils at 3:30 p.m!
