PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College baseball team saw its ninth inning lead disappear as the No. 24 Cardinals fell to Rochester Institute of technology, 9-6, on Thursday in a non-conference bout at Dugan Yard.  With the loss, Fisher fell to 8-6 on the year while the Tigers improved to 4-4.

Fisher put up a four spot in the third inning after belting out three hits before RIT could retire the side.  Evan Ryan worked a four pitch walk and moved to second base after a failed pickoff attempt.  The next hitter, Justin Graham lined a single up the middle that plated Ryan to put the Cardinals ahead, 1-0.  After Nate Roethel walked to put two on with one out, junior Scott Eisenmenger doubled down the left field line to score a pair to make it 3-0.  Eisenmenger didn't remain at second for long, however, as Allen Murphy singled through the right side to give Fisher a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth inning.

After setting the Tigers down in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals tacked on a run in the home half of the frame when Justin Graham roped an RBI-double down the right field line that scored Ryan who had singled earlier in the inning.

Fisher's offense continued to fire on all cylinders in the sixth with another run on two hits.  Murphy smacked a triple to the center field fence before advancing home when Ryan Fahy connected with a single to right to give Fisher a 6-0 lead.

RIT got one back in the top of the seventh and plated three more in the eighth on three hits to pull to within two runs, 6-4.  With a two-run cushion, Fisher turned to its bullpen to record the final three outs.  The Tigers put two on with just two pitches as Fisher hit back-to-back batters before a sacrifice bunt put both runners into scoring position with just one out.  After an intentional walk, RIT drew another base on balls to make it a one-run game, 6-5, before the next batter drove one over the left field fence for a grand slam and a 9-6 lead.

Caleb Lee started on the mound for Fisher, but did not factor in the decision.  Lee went 4.0 innings and allowed just two hits while tallying four strikeouts.  DJ Mendenhall pitched a perfect fifth inning before Kyle Chambers allowed just one hit in an inning of work.  Murphy pitched the seventh and surrendered one run on two hits while Kevin Berge gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning.  Fisher's preseason All-American Loukas Brigham (0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on just one hit in a third of an inning before giving way to Jason Wasilnak who recorded the final two outs for Fisher.

The Cardinals will open up conference play at 1 p.m. on Saturday when they host a doubleheader against SUNY Canton at Dugan Yard.