LANCASTER, Pa. – With Ursinus leading 7-2 through seven innings, Franklin & Marshall scored seven runs over the final four innings to defeat the Bears 9-8 in the 11^th inning.
 

First-year Cameron Krugel gave Ursinus a five-run advantage after blasting a grand slam in the seventh inning for his first career homerun.

 
With the loss, the Bears fell to 11-19 on the season and moved to 3-5 in Centennial Conference action, meanwhile the Diplomats improved to 19-11 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

 
Ursinus opened the contest with each of their first two runners to reaching base by hit-by-pitches. Senior Tom Snipes advanced each runner up 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt, but they would be stranded in scoring position as a fly out and strikeout ended the frame.

 
Junior left-hander T.J. Snyder got the start his sixth of the season and turned in a gem for the Bears pitching seven innings, scattering nine hits, two walks, three earned runs, and seven strikeouts. In the bottom of the first, Snyder allowed just one base runner behind but bounced back with two strikeouts and a lineout to end the inning.

 
The Bears jumped on the board first in the third inning behind three consecutive base knocks to score two runs and take an early 2-0 advantage. Snipes opened with a one-out single and came all the way around to score when sophomore Peter Balos launched a triple into the right center field gap. Balos scored during the next at-bat as senior Nick Diaz delivered an RBI single into right field. The Bears rally ended as Diaz was thrown out trying to swipe second and a strikeout ended the frame.

 
Snyder cruised through the bottom of the third retiring the Diplomats lineup behind two fly outs and a swinging strikeout. The Diplomats answered in the bottom of the fourth as a two out homerun from Drew Butera cut the Bears lead to one. Snyder allowed a two-out double before retiring the side with a groundout to the Bears shortstop.

 
The Bears lineup was kept off-balance throughout the middle innings as they received base hits from sophomore Andrew Richter and senior Solomon Griffith but were unable to capitalize and still led 2-1 heading into the sixth frame. The Diplomats tied the contest at two-a-piece in the bottom of the sixth as a leadoff homerun tied the game. Snyder would settle in and punch out two more batters in the inning, before stranding a runner in scoring position with the game tied.

 
The Bears offense broke through in the top of the seventh scoring five runs off four hits to recapture a 7-2 lead. After a leadoff groundout, sophomore Jakob Cantor singled into left field before advancing to second from a single by Snipes. The Bears loaded the bases as Balos reached first on a base on balls, leading to a Diplomats pitching change. Diaz earned an RBI on a base on balls to give Ursinus a 3-2 lead, but a pop out brought Krugel to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. The first-year outfielder unleashed on a 1-0 fastball lifting it over the left centerfield fence for his first career homerun and gave Ursinus a 7-2 lead. Snyder continued to go to work on the mound retiring the first two batters in the seventh before a single from the Diplomats second basemen. Snyder finished his seventh inning of work when a groundout to second base ended the frame.

 
Franklin & Marshall bounced back in the eighth inning scoring four runs from five hits to cut their deficit to 7-6. The Diplomats scored three of their four runs with two outs, but relief pitcher Matt Tuley escaped the jam with a swinging strikeout with the tying run on first base. The Bears added an insurance in the ninth inning as junior Nick Halcovich fought off a 2-2 count drawing a walk with the bases loaded for an RBI.

 
In the ninth inning, the Diplomats capitalized off two Bears defensive miscues and tied the game at eight a piece. With the bases loaded and no outs, Franklin & Marshall scored their first run off an error on a ground ball in the infield. After a single into left field scored the tying run, senior David Kratz escaped the inning recording back-to-back flyouts to force extra innings.  

 
In the top of the tenth, Franklin & Marshall brought in Dan Galef and he retired the Bears in order behind two strikeout and a pop out. For Ursinus, senior Jared Minnichbach relieved Kratz on the mound and recorded the first two outs behind a groundout and a strikeout. After back-to-back singles for the Diplomats and the winning run at third base, Minnichbach recorded the final out on a lineout to second base.
 
In the top of the 11^th inning, the Bears loaded the bases as Diaz reached on a single and Krugel and Kelley each walked. With just one out, the Diplomats escaped the jam as a strikeout and groundout ended the Bears opportunity. Franklin & Marshall capitalized during their opportunity at the plate as a leadoff triple from Drew Butera set up the winning run and a bouncing single down the left field line walked off the game.
 

The Bears stranded 14 runners on base and finished 1-of-6 with the bases loaded while the Diplomats improved to 3-0 in extra inning contest this season.
 

The Bears return to action Sunday as they host Washington College for Senior Day from Thomas Field starting at 12pm.

 
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