Second-seeded St. John Fisher College overcame a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning and
defeated No. 7 College at Brockport 3-2 on Wednesday night in an opening-round game of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship New York Regional at Falcon Park in Auburn.
With the win, Fisher improves to 29-12 (setting a new College-record for wins) and will face No. 6 SUNY Farmingdale at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, while Brockport (23-17) will face No. 3 SUNY Oneonta at 1:15 p.m. in an elimination game. Farmingdale defeated Oneonta, 9-5, earlier in the evening.
Fisher's Dan Jurik pitched eight innings to earn the win, raising his record to 7-3 on the year. The senior fanned a career-high 11 batters and allowed just five hits and no earned runs.
Brockport's James Joy gave up five hits through seven innings with six strikeouts, but was tagged with the loss, falling to 1-3 on the year.
Fisher's
Geoff Martone struck out two in the ninth inning to earn his sixth save of the year.
The game was scoreless through the first five innings as both pitchers were dominant.
Jurik allowed just one hit and struck out eight through the first five innings, while Joy allowed just two hits through the first five frames.
Brockport scored the game's first two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Stephen Boronczyk started the inning with a single to shortstop. Jeff Jones laid down a bunt on the ensuing at-bat and reached first when Jurik short-hopped
Kevin Wing, who was covering second base.
After a double-steal moved both players into scoring position, Mike Weakley scored the two runs with a one-out single to right-center.
Fisher, however, took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ben Bostick started the inning with a double down the right-field line.
After
Jon Gibbs reached on a fielder's choice,
Leo Fusilli loaded the bases with a bunt-single.
Teagen Barresi singled through the left side, tying the game at 2-2.
With two outs and a 2-2 count to
Steve Karnyski, Barresi stole third and scored the go-ahead run when catcher Joe Zaccardo's throw went into left field.
Brockport threatened in the top of the eighth inning, but Jurik worked out of a two-on, no out-jam. Fusilli, Fisher's catcher, threw out Jones trying to steal third for the first out. Jurik induced a ground out to short for the second out and fanned Max Zimmerman for his 11th strikeout of the day, setting a new career-high for the senior.
With two outs and a runner on second base in the ninth inning, Martone fanned Tom McCormick for what could have been the game's final out, but reached on a wild pitch, placing runners on the corner.
Martone, however, kept his composure and retired Boronczyk on three straight pitches.
