CHESTERTOWN, Md. – Senior infielder Chase Ruppel (Shamong, N.J./Seneca) set the Washington College record for home runs in a single season with 12 on a first inning home run as host WC fended off a comeback attempt by visiting Franklin & Marshall, 13-12, on Tuesday afternoon in a Centennial Conference baseball game at Athey Baseball Park.  The Shoremen improve to 18-15 overall and 6-5 in the Centennial, while the Diplomats drop to 17-13 and 4-7 respectively.

Washington College (18-15, 6-5 CC) 13 Franklin & Marshall (17-13, 4-7 CC) 12

How It Happened
- The Shoremen scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the first to lead 3-0 after one. Ruppel slammed his 12th home run of the season to set the program record on a blast well over the left field fence to make it 1-0. Two hitters later, Alex Dardaris socked a two-run shot to right-center that also plated Reese Hirsh.
- Pete Kokinis went deep in the last of the second inning with one away on a two-run homer to right center to also plate Ty Powell for a 5-0 advantage after two.
- F&M got a run scoring double to left-center with nobody out in the top of the third to trim the lead to 5-1. 
- In the bottom of the third, the Shoremen tacked on three runs to lead 8-1. Ruppel scored on a double steal with one away to push the lead to 6-1 and Ty Everitt would single in both Dardaris and Brady Wozniak to push the lead to seven after three.
- Drew Kinsey highlighted a three-run bottom of the fourth with a one out home run that gave WC a 9-1 lead as the home side took an 11-1 lead after four.
- Washington led 12-2 going into the top of the sixth when F&M scored seven times to cut the lead to 12-9. The Diplomats used a pair of three-run homers, one with one away and the other with two outs to spark the frame.
- The Shoremen used a double steal to make it 13-9 with one away in the bottom of the seventh as Kokinis stole home and Brett Connolly swiped second.
- In the top of the eighth, a bases clearing double with two outs got F&M within a run and on the play, the hitter took third, but a fly out ended the threat.
- F&M was retired in order in the top of the ninth with a strikeout looking by Elias Philiposian ending the contest.

For The Shoremen (18-15, 6-5 CC)
- Hitting: Ruppel (2-for-3, three runs, two RBI, two walks, home run), Kokinis (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI, home run), Dardaris (2-for-5, three RBI, two runs, home run), Hirsh (1-for-2, run, two walks), Ty Everitt (two RBI), Powell (two runs)
- Pitching: Cayde Connelly (win 2-0, one inning, one hit, one run, one earned, zero walks, zero strikeouts)
- Washington had 12 hits, drew five walks and had four reach on hit by pitch while leaving nine on base. 
- The Shoremen made two errors in the game, leading to zero unearned run for the Diplomats.

Notes
- Kinsey and Ruppel both have hit 30 career home runs, the most in team history. Ruppel passed Kinsey who set the mark last season with 11.

Up Next
4/17 @ Franklin & Marshall– 3:30 p.m. (Centennial Conference Games)