UNION, N.J. – Ryan Simmons broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the 11th inning on Saturday with a two-run home run as the St. John Fisher College baseball team won its second straight game after overcoming a two-run deficit to down Kean University at Jim Hynes Stadium. With the win, Fisher evened its season mark at 6-6 while the Cougars dipped to 6-10 on the season.
Sophomore pitcher
Anthony Brophy took the ball to start, but did not factor in the decision after hurling seven innings where the North Tonawanda native surrendered two runs (one earned) on six hits with three strikeouts.
Dillan Wilkinson would earn the win (1-0) after holding the Cougars scoreless over four innings of relief. The sophomore fanned four and gave up just one hit.
After falling behind 2-0 with the Cougars plated a run in the first and second innings, Brophy settled in as the two pitchers held both offenses off the board until Fisher came up with two runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. After a groundout,
Stephen Edgett provided instant offense with a solo shot to left center to make it 2-1.
Victor Konstantinovsky singled up the middle and moved to second on a passed ball. With two outs and a runner in scoring position,
Justin Graham kept the inning going after reaching on an infield error before
Thomas Pasquale singled through the right side to score Konstantinovsky and tie the game in the process.
The Cardinals were poised to take the lead in the top of the 10th frame as
Allen Murphy led off with a double, but Kean would induce a groundout before retiring the side with back-to-back strikeouts to keep it tied at 2-2.
After holding the Cougars scoreless in the home half of the 10th, Fisher took advantage of a one-out walk as Simmons came to the plate with Pasquale on first and blasted a two-run shot to left to give the visitors a 4-2 edge. As the inning continued,
Ryan Brown smacked a two-out single to left before Murphy and Edgett each came up with an RBI base knock to give the Cardinals a four-run cushion, 6-2.
In the bottom of the 11th, the Cardinals recorded two quick outs, but Kean continued to battle and put two on before Wilkinson ended the rally with a strikeout.
In all, Fisher tallied nine hits with Simmons, Murphy, Edgett and Konstantinovsky each coming away with two hits.
Fisher is scheduled to begin play at Dugan Yard at 3 p.m. on Tuesday when it hosts The College at Brockport.
