PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College baseball team pushed its winning streak to seven games on Sunday at Dugan Yard as the Cardinals took both ends of an Empire 8 doubleheader against visiting Utica College.  With the wins, Fisher improved to 25-10 on the season and 11-4 in the conference while the Pioneers fell to 12-18 and 6-6, respectively.

FISHER 8, UTICA 5

After falling behind by a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals came through in the home half of the first with two runs of their own on three hits.  Justin Graham led off the inning with a single to center before moving into scoring position when Stephen Edgett lined a ball through the left side of the infield.  The Pioneers would retire the next two hitters but couldn't escape the inning unharmed as Allen Murphy drew a walk to put two on for Antony Mantova who ripped a two-out, two-run triple to right center to knot the game at two runs apiece. 

The Cardinals would take the lead in the next inning as Graham doubled in a run, but Utica would pull even in the top of the fourth with a two-out single to make it 3-3.

In the home half of the fourth, Ryan Simmons came to the plate and connected for a single through the left side before moving to second following a ground out.  With a runner in scoring position and one away, Jake Hewitt took advantage of a start at designated hitter and drove in a run with a single to left to plate the go-ahead run and make it 4-3.

The lead would be short-lived, however, as Utica answered in the fifth inning with a run of its own.  With the score tied in the bottom of the frame, Fisher took advantage of the Pioneers' bullpen with three runs on two hits and an error to hold a three-run edge, 7-4.  Mantova, Michael Beimel and Hewitt were each credited with an RBI in the inning.

Utica was able to come up with another run in the top of the sixth, but couldn't string together a quick inning as a two-out walk to Murphy came back to haunt the visitors following a throwing error that resulted in a run.

Overall, Fisher had 10 hits in the win led by Mantova who was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI.  Graham had two hits in the win while Murphy was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Kenneth Westbrook started on the mound but didn't factor in the decision after going four innings and allowing three runs on eight hits.  Westbrook finished with five strikeouts before being lifted for Tim Geissel who moved to 1-0 on the year behind three strong innings.  Geissel gave up two runs on five hits with three strikeouts to his credit.

FISHER 17, UTICA 3

The Cardinals' offense was clicking in the nightcap as Fisher scored in all but one inning.

Overall, the home team accrued 19 hits in the win led by Graham who was 4-for-5 with a double and four runs scored.  Simmons was 3-for-5 in the finale with a home run and two RBI while Mantova had two hits in four at-bats with three more RBI to his credit.  Ryan Brown had two hits in the game while Thomas Pasquale was 2-for-5 with a game-high four RBI.  Pasquale had a sacrifice fly and banged his 17th double while Edgett was 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and three runs scored.  Hewitt also had a big game at the plate as the senior as 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Sophomore RJ Kuruts moved to 4-2 with the win after going six innings where he fanned a career-best nine hitters.  Kuruts allowed one run on six hits.   Rylan Baker was the first arm out of the pen as he was touched for one run on two hits in a third of an inning.  Jack Delaney recorded two outs while Spencer Weyand pitched a scoreless eighth inning.  Caleb Lee surrendered one run in a third of an inning before Jim Dawson tossed the final two outs.

The Cardinals will go for their 26th win of the season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel across town to take on the University of Rochester in a nine-inning, non-conference tilt.