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GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Senior Mike Backus broke Gettysburg's career home run record, but the Bullets dropped a 12-4 decision to Franklin & Marshall College in a Centennial Conference baseball game Tuesday afternoon at a hot and windy Kirchhoff Field.
It was a 4-4 game heading into the eighth when F&M (11-10-1, 6-3 CC) broke it open with seven runs on four hits, an error, and two walks.

Backus drilled his record-breaking 14th homer with a solo shot in the fifth to make it 4-4. The previous mark of 13 was set by John Woods '00 from 1997-2000.

Backus, junior Cam Riera, and senior Craig Barrows each had two hits for the Bullets (10-12, 6-3 CC) while junior Matt Karis turned in a gritty pitching performance in a no-decision. Although he allowed seven hits and five walks over seven innings, he prevented further damage by leaving 11 runners on base and working out of bases-loaded jams in the third and fourth. After throwing a three-up, three-down seventh, he left after throwing 141 pitches.

Bill Murray went 4-for-5 to lead F&M while J.T. Triantos scored three runs.

The Diplomats went up 2-0 in the third before Gettysburg answered with a two-spot of their own in the bottom of the inning. F&M pushed its lead to 4-2 after a two-run fourth before the Bullets plated single runs in the fourth and fifth.

Barrows doubled into the left-center gap to lead off the fourth and scored on a single to right from senior Cory Beddick. In the fifth, Backus blasted the first pitch he saw just left of the 400-foot sign in straightaway center.

Senior John Antrim-Cashin came in relief in the eighth and struck out the first batter he faced. After an error and a fly ball to right that was lost in the sun put runners on second and third, Antrim-Cashin (0-1) was one out from escaping the inning after fanning cleanup hitter Blue Wells. However, F&M pushed across the go-ahead run with a walk and a hit batsman.

Another defensive miscue cost the Bullets two more runs when a fly ball dropped between the left and center fielders to make it 7-4. After another walk, senior Mike Sweeney was called out of the pen before the Dips added back-to-back two-run doubles to go up 11-4.

Reliever Brendan McCreary (2-1) threw the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the win for F&M, allowing two hits and no runs. Starter Matt Valente allowed all four Bullet runs on seven hits and four walks over 6 2/3 innings.

The Diplomats left 15 runners on base for the game while the Bullets stranded eight.

The same two teams conclude their season series on Friday, when they meet in Lancaster for another nine-inning game starting at 3:30 p.m.