GREENSBORO, N.C. – Guilford College’s Chuck Noble drove in four runs as the Quakers completed a three-game series sweep of Franklin & Marshall College with a Sunday afternoon victory, 8-5.
The Diplomats used a lead-off double in the top of the second inning to claim an early 1-0 lead, their only lead of the contest. Logan Jones quickly tied up the contest with two outs in the next half-inning with a solo home run to left center field. Noble teamed up with Andrew Brann in the third inning to spark Guilford’s three-run rally as Brann’s single drove in a run while Noble’s double brought two runs home to claim a three-run lead. The Diplomats used good base running in the fourth inning to plate a run on just one hit before Eric Yost and Nick Blackwood (Greensboro, N.C./Wesleyan Christian Academy) shut the door in the frame. The Diplomats scored once in the seventh and the eighth to close the lead to one run, but Guilford took advantage of two errors and a wild pitch in bottom half of the inning as the Quakers gained three insurance runs to bolster the lead. A two-out error plated a Franklin & Marshall run in the top of the ninth inning, but Chase Shuford quickly induced a fly out to end the game.
Brann finished three-for-four with three singles while Noble finished two-for-four, leading all batters with four RBI. Jones produced Guilford remaining multi-hit effort, finishing two-for-five with one RBI.
Matt Mezansky and Tyler Daley led the Diplomats, each batting two-for-four with one RBI, including a double for Mezansky. David Iacobucci was the remaining Diplomats’ bat with a multi-hit day, hitting two-for-three.
Blackwood (2-0) claimed the win in four and one-third innings of relief giving up two unearned runs on four hits while fanning three. Yost earned the start for the Quakers, giving up two runs on four hits while walking two batters and striking out four.
Eric Bateman (0-1) took the loss for the Diplomats in a three-inning effort where he gave up three runs on four hits while walking and striking out two. Gareth Fancher led the bullpen, throwing two innings where he struck out two batters.
The Quakers (7-4) return to McBane Field Wednesday, hosting Greensboro College for a 3 p.m. contest.