The St. John Fisher College baseball team split a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader versus SUNY Oneonta at Dugan Yard. Both games were decided by just a run and with the split Fisher moves to 16-9 overall.
After scoring the first three runs of the game in the first inning and holding the 3-0 throughout the game, the seventh inning came with a scare. Oneonta rallied for four runs on just three hits in the top of the seventh to take the lead 4-3.
Jason Nevada struck out but reached first on a passed ball. Senior
Kevin Wing laid a perfect bunt down when trying to advance Nevada, ending up at first with a single. Montesano grounded back to the pitcher, who tried to get Nevada on his way to third. The throw went into the dirt and bounced into left field, allowing Nevada to knot the game at four. After
Teagen Barresi was intentionally walked to load the bases,
Leo Fusilli singled into right field for the game-winning RBI that scored Wing.
Andrew Van Slyke got the start and pitched three innings of one-hit ball. In relief Jeremy Williard gave up just two hits in two innings while
Tim Johnson got the win in under an inning pitched.
Two runs in the sixth from Oneonta would break a 1-1 tie and seal the win for the Red Dragons in the nightcap.
With two outs in the second, Oneonta took the lead when Mascari doubled through the right side and scored on two consecutive errors from the Cardinals.
Fisher answered in the fourth with a run from Phil Pettinella. Pettinella reached on a single, was advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Shaughnessy, and reached third on a fly out to centerfield from Ross Langevin. Kevin Wing's single to right center scored the run and earned him an RBI.
Jon Gibbs made the throw to third to stop the initial run in the sixth and Dan Jurik recorded a strike out to earn the second out, but the Cardinals couldn't stop the Red Dragons, when Mascari's single kicked off a two-run streak to give them the lead for good.
Fisher looked to come back in the bottom of the seventh. Wing walked and was advanced when Fusilli was hit by the pitch with two outs already on the board. Gibbs singled to right field to score Wing and bring the game to a one-run deficit, but the Cardinals couldn't capitalize.
Jurik took the loss on the mound for Fisher, recording seven strikeouts but allowing two earned runs. Aaron Benton saw time in relief for the Cardinals, pitching 1.1 innings, striking out one, and allowing one hit.
Fisher returns to action when it hosts Ithaca College in an Empire 8 Conference matchup on Saturday. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.
