HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Senior Alec Teska held Houghton College hitless through six and two-thirds innings and the Cardinals combined to score 18 runs overall as St. John Fisher College baseball team picked up two wins in its Empire 8 debut after sweeping a twin-billing in Houghton on Saturday.  With the wins, Fisher moved to 9-9 on the year while the Highlanders closed out the day at 7-13.

FISHER 10, HOUGHTON 0

Teska was one out away from throwing a no-hitter as the Cato native earned his first win of the season after allowing one hit in a complete-game shutout.  The right-hander struck out four in the win and needed just 82 pitches to close the door on the Highlanders.

It didn't take long for Fisher to stake its pitcher to a lead as Noah Campanelli worked a leadoff walk and came around to score when Michael Beimel drove him in with a single to right.  With one run already in, Nick Lemire worked a walk to keep the inning going before Ben Lavery stepped in and mashed a two-run double to make it 3-0 before Houghton could retire the side.

With three runs on the board, Fisher tacked on another in the top of the third when Beimel delivered a solo shot to left that made it a four-run affair heading to the home half of the inning.

After holding Houghton at bay in the bottom of third, Fisher continued to pound the Highlanders' pitching as Patrick Kravitz worked a walk before advancing to third on an infield error.  With two aboard and one down, Lemire drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left that gave the visitors a 5-0 cushion.

In the top of the seventh, Fisher delivered another big inning with five runs on five hits including a pair of two-run pokes from Jack Kelleher and Campanelli to open up a 10-run gap.

Campanelli continued his hot streak at the plate as the junior, who was named the Empire 8's Player of the Week on Monday, was 4-for-4 with a walk, one double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored.  Beimel was 2-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored while Lavery collected two hits on the day and had two RBI to his credit.  

FISHER 8, HOUGHTON 3

In the nightcap, the Cardinals struck early and often with four runs over the first two innings to take a 4-1 edge into the top of the third.

From there, Campanelli worked a walk in the top of the fourth before coming around to score when Beimel reached on a fielding error by the Highlanders' shortstop that made it 4-1.

After letting in a run in the home half of the fourth, the Cardinals scored two more in the sixth and one in the top of the ninth while their pitching staff threw up zeroes over the final five innings to secure a five-run win.

Campanelli picked up two more hits in the second game and had an RBI while Lemire went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.  James Murphy had two hits in five at-bats including a double while Evan Bowers and Brian Norsen combined to go 4-for-9 in all.

Tim Geissel started on the mound and threw three innings where he gave up two runs on three hits while Russell Dunlap earned the win in relief after surrendering one run on three hits over five innings of work.  Logan Persse pitched the ninth and yielded one hit.

The two teams will swap venues on Monday with Houghton coming to Dugan Yard for a pair of games.