HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College baseball team matched the program record for the longest winning streak in team history as the No. 18 Cardinals took both ends of an Empire 8 doubleheader against Houghton College on Saturday at the Kerr Pegula Athletic Complex.  With the wins, Fisher, which has now its last 14 games, improved to 22-6 on the year and 9-0 in the Empire 8 while the highlanders fell to 12-20 overall and 1-13 against conference competition. 

FISHER 14, HOUGHTON 3

Ryan Fahy got things rolling in the top of the first inning with an RBI-single to center that scored Justin Graham who had reached on an infield error.  Fisher extended its lead to four runs in the next inning after smacking three hits with Malcolm Kelsey and Graham collecting an RBI in the inning.

Ryan Prevost staked Fisher to a 5-0 lead in the third inning after blasting a solo shot over the left field fence before Nate Roethel singled through the right side of the infield in the fourth followed by an RBI-groundout with the bases loaded by Jack Trotman to make it a seven-run game. 

Houghton scored three runs over the next two innings to pull to within 7-3, but Fisher shelled the Highlanders for seven runs on six hits and an error in the seventh to blow the game wide open.  Kelsey led off with an infield single and moved to second when Thomas Pasquale bunted him over.  With one out, Evan Ryan reached after being plunked before Graham singled to load the bases.  Fisher scored its first run of the frame on a passed ball and reloaded the bases as Fahy worked a walk.  Junior Scott Eisenmenger reached on a fielder's choice that drove in a run while Roethel doubled down the right field line to give Fisher an 11-3 edge.  As the inning continued, Trotman singled in a run while a single into center by Pasquale was enough to score Antony Mantova and give Fisher a 13-3 lead.

Dominick Pisciotto started on the mound and moved to 4-0 with the win.  He went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits.  Pisciotto struck out four overall.  Matt Toohey pitched the final inning and a third and allowed just one hit.

FISHER 17, HOUGHTON 7

The Cardinals continued to roll in the nightcap led by five strong inning from sophomore right-hander Jim Dawson.  Dawson gave up three runs on six hits and came away with three strikeouts as he moved to 5-0 on the year.  Dillan Wilkinson pitched two perfect innings before being lifted for Jonathan Schlesing who allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.  Bradley McAfee completed the game with 1.1 scoreless innings. 

Houghton got on the board first in the bottom of the opening inning with two runs on three hits, but the lead would be short-lived as Fisher plated a run in the second and third innings to tie the game at two runs apiece.

In the fourth inning, the visitors took the lead when Jack Vivinetto singled to right to score Kelsey who had drawn a two-out walk. 

After swapping runs in the fifth inning, Fisher came to life in the seventh with six more runs on five hits with Fahy picking up a pair of RBI with a single to center and Kelsey plating a pair with a two-out triple to right center field. 

Leading by seven runs in the top of the eighth, The Cardinals continued to hit the ball.  Graham reached on an error while Fahy drew a walk to put two on with just one out and Eisenmenger coming to bat.  The junior got a pitch he liked and ripped a two-run double to center before Prevost doubled him home to make it 13-3 in Fisher's favor. 

The Highlanders responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the eighth, but couldn't hold Fisher at bay in the ninth as head coach Brandon Potter's squad scored four more runs with Fahy and Eisenmenger each driving in two runs.

Ryan, Graham, Pasquale and Vivinetto each had three hits in the win while Eisenmenger drove in a career-high six runs.

Fisher travels to Elmira on Sunday as the Cardinals go for their 15th straight win.  First pitch is set for 4 p.m.