PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College baseball team had its winning streak snapped on Friday as the Cardinals fell to Stevens Institute of Technology in an Empire 8 doubleheader at Dugan Yard. With the losses, Fisher moved to 16-9 on the year and 5-3 in the Empire 8. Stevens improved to 18-13 overall and 11-3 against conference competition.
STEVENS 4, FISHER 1
After plating an unearned run in the top of the first inning, Stevens added to its lead in the top of the fourth as the Ducks plated a pair of runs in the fourth frame on two hits.
Stevens struck again in the fifth inning after the first two hitters reached before a sacrifice bunt followed by a sac fly to center made it a four-run affair heading into the home half of the inning.
The Cardinals broke through in the bottom of the fifth as
Ryan Fahy singled up the middle and scored from first when
Stephen Edgett lifted an RBI-double that bounced off the base of the left field fence to pull Fisher within three runs, 4-1.
In the sixth inning,
Thomas Pasquale reached after belting a single to right center and moved into scoring position when
Jake Hewitt beat out an infield single. With two on, both runners moved up a bag after a wild pitch, but the Cardinals were unable to come up with a two-out hit as the Ducks held on for the 4-1 win.
Anthony Brophy was tagged with the loss and moved to 3-2 on the season after going five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits. The sophomore had three strikeouts before being lifted in the sixth by
Jack Delaney. Delaney tossed two perfect innings and had one strikeout overall.
STEVENS 15, FISHER 8
The nightcap turned out to be a slugfest as the two teams combined for 29 hits and 23 runs in nine innings.
The Ducks scored a run in each of the first two innings and double their lead in the top of the third after plating two runs on two hits before the Cardinals could escape a bases loaded jam.
Leading 4-0 in the bottom of the third, Fisher got on the board after Edgett led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from
Jack Vivinetto, but Stevens would strike again, this time scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to open up a 7-0 lead.
Fisher would erase a six-run deficit in the home half of the fourth with six runs on five hits to knot things up at 7-7.
Scott Eisenmenger led off with a walk and moved to second when
Ryan Simmons collected an infield single. With two on and one away, Hewitt stepped in and launched a three-run shot into the Cardinals' bullpen to make it 7-4. Vivinetto kept the momentum going in Fisher's favor with a two-out single the opposite way before
Justin Graham singled and moved all the way third after the Ducks' right fielder over ran the ball with Vivinetto scoring on the play. Following a walk by
Antony Mantova, Pasquale lined a two-run single to center to tie the game up heading to the top of the fifth.
Stevens quickly countered in the next half inning with two runs on two hits and would go to add three more in the sixth with the big blow coming as a two-run double to make it 12-7.
In the bottom of the sixth, Fisher was primed for a big inning after loading the bases with no outs, but the Ducks turned a double play to limit the damage to a single run.
The visitors continued to find gaps in the later innings as the Ducks tallied three more runs in the top of the ninth en route to the seven-run win.
In all, Fisher used six different pitchers beginning with
RJ Kuruts who lasted 2.1 innings and gave up four runs on six hits.
Pat Galer tossed one inning overall and surrendered three runs before giving way to
Alec Teska who was saddled with the loss after allowing two runs in an inning of work.
Matt Toohey allowed one hit in two-thirds of an inning while
Anthony Loussedes was hit with three runs (two earned) in an inning.
Dillan Wilkinson pitched three innings and allowed three runs on four hits.
Fisher will look to right the ship at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when it hosts SUNY Canton. the game will be played under the lights at Colburn park in Newark.
