The St. John Fisher College baseball team fell twice in an Empire 8 doubleheader with No. 20 Ithaca College on Saturday afternoon in Ithaca. With the losses, Fisher falls to 16-11 overall and 4-4 in the conference.

Game One – Ithaca 4, Fisher 3 (9 innings):

Fisher scored the first two runs of the game but Ithaca tied things up with a run in the fourth and fifth innings. The Cardinals seemed primed for a victory by scoring their third run in the top of the seventh, needing just three outs in the bottom of the inning to secure a win. The Bombers would not go away, however, knotting the game at 3-3 with a run in the seventh.

Both teams were unable to score in the eighth inning, and Ithaca notched the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Fisher's first run came off a Nick Flemister homer to left field in the second. Two innings later, the Cardinals were at it again, this time on a solo blast from senior Sean Osterman with two outs in the fourth.

After Ithaca scored two to tie the game, Osterman scored the go-ahead run by singling to lead off the seventh inning. He advanced to second on a fielder's choice where the Ithaca defense tried to nab Osterman as the lead run but the quick base runner beat the attempt. Osterman moved to third on another fielder's choice and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Sean Badger got the start for Fisher, going 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out two Bombers. Ryan Trauger relieved Badger and let up a run in two-thirds of an inning pitched despite not allowing a hit.

Thomas Dybas threw the final two innings for the Cardinals, giving up four hits and a run to earn the decision.

Osterman led Fisher at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Flemister, Matt Creenan, Mike Fahy and Ben Bostick each had one hit for the Cardinals.

Game Two – Ithaca 6, Fisher 4:

Ithaca led 3-1 heading into the fourth inning before Fisher was able to string some runs together and take a lead. In the top of the fourth, Shane Barley led off with a walk before Brad Rush singled to right field. Two batters later, Ben Webb stepped to the plate with two on and one out. Webb sent a three-run homer over the right field fence, giving the Cardinals a 4-3 advantage.

That would be the end of Fisher's scoring for the afternoon, however, and the Bombers were able to add three more to the run column to take the 6-4 victory.

Adam Pettinella got the loss in his fourth start of the year, going four innings. The lefty scattered eight hits and gave up six runs, only four of which were earned. Shawn Corrigane relieved Pettinella and threw two innings of dominant baseball, striking out four without allowing a hit or a run.

Barley had Fisher's other RBI and a hit, as Bostick, Flemister, Rush,Webb and Chris Roeder all finished with a hit apiece.

Fisher will return to action at 1 p.m. on Sunday as it faces the Bombers in another conference doubleheader.