In its first of two games against the University of Rochester this week, the St. John Fisher College baseball team fell 5-4 to the Yellowjackets.

The Cardinals (17-16) gave up a run in the first inning after a single through the left side, a stolen base and another single, this time up the middle. The score would remain 1-0 for the first few innings until Fisher broke the one run deficit in the bottom of the fourth. John Quartironi singled to start the inning and moved to second when Leo Fusilli was hit by a pitch. Freshman Steve Karnyski entered the batters box next, doubling to left center, driving in both Quartironi and Fusilli. Fisher took a 2-1 lead, but it would not last long.

In the top of the fifth, Rochester would take the advantage for good when they scored two runs to go up 3-2. The inning was started with a fielding error that landed the Yellowjackets batter on second base. Rochester manufactured this score off of two groundouts, as well as the second run off another single, stolen base, single combination they originally displayed in the first inning. After the Yellowjackets added a run in the top of the sixth, Fisher had its best chance to take the lead again.

Again the combination of Fusilli and Quartironi produced a run, and left Fusilli on second base with Karnyski on first. The hard-hitting Jon Gibbs stepped up to the plate with just an out on the board. Gibbs smoked a line drive towards the third basemen, which was caught and a quick turn and throw to second resulted in Fusilli being doubled up. The game remained a one-run margin at 4-3 and would hold at that gap or more for the rest of the game.

Down 5-4 in the ninth, Gibbs drew a leadoff walk but Fisher was unable to produce the tying run.

Quartironi went 3-for-4 at the plate while Karnyski, Fusilli, and junior Kevin Wing each had two hits. Karnyski also had two RBI while Fusilli and freshman Teagan Barresi both had one.

Fisher will take another crack at the University of Rochester on Friday at 7:30 when the two teams meet at Frontier Field, home of the Rochester Red Wings.