MADISON, N.J. – David Iacobucci went 5-for-5 to break the program's all-time hits record, but Franklin & Marshall's baseball team succumbed to a ninth-inning rally from Drew, falling by a narrow 5-4 score on Thursday afternoon.
The non-conference defeat dropped the Diplomats' overall record to 17-14-1 while the Rangers improved to 18-11.
Iacobucci, who entered the contest needing three hits to tie the program's career record, was red-hot at the plate, lining a single to right field in the top of the eighth that topped the mark previously shared by J.T. Triantos '12 and Gary Kruger '06.
Tied at 2-2 heading into the ninth, Justin Cavegn led off with a single down the right-field line and followed by advancing to second off a bulk. Jimmy Whelanrecorded a single of his own to place runners at first and third before a wild pitch allowed Cavegn to cross home plate.
Later in the frame, Iacobucci picked up his fifth hit of the day, a RBI single that scored Whelan from third and pulled F&M ahead by a 4-2 mark.
The Rangers stormed back by opening the ninth with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt that placed runners on second and third with one out. A wild pitch sent a runner home from third, and a walk put runners on first and third. Drew laid down another successful sacrifice bunt that tied the game at 4-4 and loaded the bases, before the Rangers walked off on the second wild pitch of the frame.
Freshman starter Jack Buckley was reliable in the no-decision, tossing seven frames and allowing just two earned off four hits. Reliever Casey Bulik (0-2) was the dealt the loss after being charged with three earned in 1/3 innings on the mound. Joshua Williams (1-1) garnered Drew's win after throwing the final 1 2/3 frames.
Christopher Vincent went 2-for-4, which included a two-out RBI single in the top of the first. Third baseman Max Schwartz also recorded a RBI single in the game with a one-out hit that plated Zachary Roberson in the top of the fourth.
F&M outhit Drew by an 11-7 margin but stranded 10 base runners on the day.