PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University baseball team bounced back in a big way, rolling to a 16-1 mercy-rule victory over SUNY Poly in seven innings on Tuesday afternoon at Dugan Yard in Empire 8 action. The Cardinals improve to 25-9 (14-5) on the season with the win.
Fisher totaled 13 hits and drew nine walks while also benefiting from eight SUNY Poly errors in a dominant offensive performance. Ryan Vanderlip led the way with a career day, going 3-for-4 with a double, a three-run home run, three RBI, and three runs scored. Mario Cubello added a two-run home run and finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored, while Jack Griffin went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI, a sacrifice fly, and two runs scored. Brendan Bucello chipped in with two hits, two RBI, and a run scored, and Jacob Penafeather contributed two hits and two runs scored. Hunter Fales drove in three runs out of the six-hole, scoring twice, and Noah Pohrte drew a walk and added a run scored as the Cardinals' lineup produced throughout.
On the mound, Robert Leach earned the win, tossing four strong innings while allowing just two hits and striking out two. Benjamin Huckans came on in relief and worked two frames, allowing the Wildcats' lone run on a Maddox Garvey triple and sacrifice fly but otherwise holding firm. Brandon Benkovics slammed the door in the seventh with a clean inning, striking out two. As a staff, Fisher's pitchers combined to allow one earned run on three hits across seven innings.
How It Happened
Fisher wasted no time in the first inning, scoring four runs on two hits and two SUNY Poly errors. Jack Griffin doubled to lead off, and Mario Cubello reached on an error by the first baseman with the bases loaded. Hunter Fales then reached on a third baseman's error to score Jordan Perry, and a passed ball brought home Griffin. Brendan Bucello capped the inning with a two-run single to center to make it 4-0.
The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the second, adding four more for an 8-0 lead. Vanderlip singled and Griffin doubled to score him, before Cubello launched a two-run home run to left field. Fales singled and scored on a left fielder's error, and Bucello was hit by a pitch before the inning ended with the Cardinals firmly in control.
Fisher went quiet in the third before erupting for four more in the fourth. Bucello singled and Penafeather followed with a single to center, with a center fielder error pushing Bucello to third. A wild pitch scored Bucello, and after Pohrte singled to load the bases, Vanderlip unloaded a three-run home run to push the lead to 12-0.
SUNY Poly finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Garvey tripled and scored on a Will Orlando sacrifice fly to make it 13-1.
The Cardinals added two more in the sixth on a Griffin sacrifice fly and a Fales RBI reached on error, pushing the score to 15-1. Pinch hitter Brody Becker capped the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single to center to set the final at 16-1.
Game Notes
- SUNY Poly committed eight errors, leading to 10 unearned Fisher runs on the afternoon.
- Jack Griffin's two doubles, pushed his season total to a team-high 22 total doubles.
Up Next
The Cardinals are scheduled for a Wednesday, non-conference game at The University of Rochester. First pitch on April 29, is set for 7:00 p.m. at Towers Field.Â
