OSWEGO, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College baseball team over-came a five-run deficit, but was unable to hold onto a late-inning lead as the Cardinals fell to nationally-ranked Oswego State, 10-8, on Tuesday at Laker Field.  With the loss, Fisher, which entered the non-conference bout having won each of its last four games, slipped to 26-13 on the year while the Lakers, who are ranked 14th in the latest D3baseball.com national poll, improved to 25-8.

Junior Ben Lavery connected for two home runs in the game for the second time this season as the outfielder drove in five runs and scored two of his own.  Noah Campanelli was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored while James Murphy was 2-for-4 with a home run.  Jimmy McCaardle, who was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Week on Monday, finished with two hits including a home run.

After spotting the Lakers a five-run cushion through the first five innings of play, Fisher plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth after stringing together five hits.  McCardle opened the inning with s solo shot to right center before Campanelli and Lavery each singled.  With two on and no outs, Evan Bowers drove in a run with a fielder's choice before Nick Lemire kept the inning going with an infield single.  With a runner in scoring position, Luke Duffy laced a single to center before the Lakers recorded the third out on the base paths to maintain their 5-2 edge.

Trailing by three runs in the top of the seventh, Fisher flashed its power with Murphy belting a solo shot before Lavery stepped in and ripped a three-run bomb that pushed the Cardinals ahead, 6-5.

Facing a one-run gap, Oswego answered in the home half of the seventh with a two-run blast of its own to reclaim the lead, 7-6.  From there, Oswego held Fisher at bay to lead off the eighth inning and would go on to score three more runs on two hits to extend the lead to four.

With three outs left in play and Fisher trailing 10-6, McCardle worked a walk in the top of the ninth before Lavery crushed his second long ball of the day and team-leading 11th homer to pull the visitors to within two.  With momentum beginning to shift, the Lakers went to their pen and pitched two quick outs to end the threat and nab a 10-8 decision.

Christian Maloney (0-2) was tagged with the loss after throwing the first 1.1 innings and allowing four runs on two hits.  Joseph Tronetti let in one run on two hits over five outs while Christian O'Brien and Jason Wall combined to allow one hit over two innings.  Conor Fitzgerald pitched a scoreless sixth while Patrick McGuire was hit for two runs on two hits before giving way to Logan Persse who recorded consecutive outs.  Cole Hedden yielded three runs before Tim Geissel pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

The Cardinals, who are receiving votes in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper national poll, will begin their journey towards their second straight Empire 8 Championship as top-seeded Fisher hosts fourth-seeded Elmira College in the semifinal round of the postseason tournament at Dugan Yard.  First pitch of the twin billing is slated for 12 p.m.