PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University baseball team split it's Saturday Senior Day doubleheader against Houghton, winning 11-3 in game one, and losing 5-4 in game two. The Cardinals record now moves to 26-10 (15-6) heading into the final day of the regular season.
Before the games this afternoon, the Cardinals baseball program and the St. John Fisher University Athletic Department took time to recognize the graduating class of Fisher baseball student-athletes. Those honored were Collin Clark, Benjamin Huckans, Jack Griffin, Ethan Fulton, Mario Cubello, Jake Crantz, Cam Kingsley, Noah Pohrte, Michael Bowler, Cal Machalek, Conner Walker and Dylan Becker.
Game One: St. John Fisher 11, Houghton 3
Fisher totaled eight hits and drew nine walks, while the Cardinals' running game was a constant thorn in Houghton's side, stealing seven bases on the afternoon. Hunter Fales went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and a walk to reach base every time up, while Brendan Bucello chipped in a hit, two RBI, and a walk. Jack Griffin added a three-run home run from the three-hole, and Ryan Vanderlip contributed two hits and an RBI to fuel the early offense. Jackson Frey reached base two times via a walk, a hit-by-pitch, scoring twice, while Mario Cubello added a hit, an RBI, and swiped three bags. Jacob Penafeather drew two walks and scored a run, and Jordan Perry drove in a run and scored twice as the Cardinals got production throughout the order.
On the mound, Justin Christensen was outstanding in the victory, working 5.1 innings while allowing just three runs — none of them earned — on three hits and striking out nine. Houghton's offense was completely stifled by Christensen, who was in command from the first pitch. Nathan Benjamin followed with 1.2 clean innings, walking two while punching out two. Dylan Becker came on in the eighth and finished the game with two shutout frames, allowing just one hit and striking out two. As a staff, Fisher's pitchers held Houghton to just four hits and zero earned runs.
How It Happened
Fisher got on the board in the second inning, sending six batters to the plate against Houghton starter Chris Gross. Brendan Bucello, Hunter Fales, and Jacob Penafeather drew three consecutive walks to load the bases with one out, and Ryan Vanderlip singled through to score Bucello. Jordan Perry followed with an RBI groundout to bring home Fales and push the lead to 2-0.
The Cardinals added another run in the third. Vanderlip singled and Jordan Perry doubled to put runners on second and third, and Jack Griffin delivered an RBI single to score Perry and make it 3-0. Fisher continued threatening but Gross escaped further damage.
Houghton got on the board in the fifth when Willan Armes singled, raced to third on a Noah Pohrte error in center field, and scored on an Ethan Parks sacrifice fly to cut it to 3-1.
Fisher scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 8-3 lead, the biggest blow coming from a three-run Jack Griffin home run. In the seventh, the Cardinals pushed across one more run as Jackson Frey walked and immediately stole second before Hunter Fales doubled to plate him. The Cardinals continued to tack on through the eighth, where Vanderlip was hit by a pitch, stole second, and came home on a Mario Cubello RBI single. Jordan Perry scored moments later as Cubello used his speed to steal both second and third base and keep the pressure on.
Game Notes
- Christensen improved to 6-0 on the season, striking out nine over 5.1 innings without allowing an earned run.
- Fisher stole seven bases in the game, Mario Cubello led the way with three stolen bags.
- Nathan Benjamin and Dylan Becker combined for 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit.
Game Two: St. John Fisher 4, Houghton 5
Offensively, Hunter Fales led the way going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jack Griffin went 2-for-5 with two RBI, and Jordan Perry added two hits including a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Brendan Bucello drew three walks and Jacob Penafeather chipped in a hit and a run scored as the Cardinals built their early lead.
On the mound, Sean Cleary was outstanding in a hard-luck performance, tossing five innings while allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out eight without walking a batter. Luke Horton followed with two innings, an unearned run crossed in the sixth on a Ryan Vanderlip error. Benjamin Huckans (2-2) took the loss, allowing two runs — one earned — over the final two innings as Houghton rallied.
How It Happened
Houghton wasted no time in the first inning, taking advantage of three passed balls to manufacture an unearned run without benefit of an extra-base hit. Vincent Lucyszyn singled and advanced to third on two successive passed balls before scoring on a third as the Highlanders grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Fisher answered in the second inning. Jackson Frey walked and Brendan Bucello drew a free pass to put two on, and Hunter Fales delivered an RBI single to score Frey and tie the game at 1-1.
The Cardinals seized control in the third, scoring twice on a Jack Griffin two-run single. Ryan Vanderlip singled and Jordan Perry doubled to put runners on second and third, and Griffin lined a single up the middle to plate both and push the lead to 3-1.
Fisher added another run in the fourth when Jacob Penafeather singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, and Jordan Perry singled him home with two outs to make it 4-1.
Houghton began chipping away in the fifth as Ty Kenney doubled home Willan Armes — who had advanced on a passed ball — to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Highlanders pulled within one in the sixth when Qingyang Feng singled, advanced on another passed ball, and scored on a Vanderlip throwing error to make it 4-3.
Fisher's bats went cold over the final five frames against Houghton reliever Nate Tyler, who held the Cardinals hitless until a Fales double in the eighth that was ultimately stranded.
Houghton tied it in the eighth when Feng singled, Tortorici doubled, and Olsin Waldorf delivered an RBI single to knot the game at 4-4. The Highlanders completed the comeback in the ninth, reaching on a Vanderlip error and a hit-by-pitch before Vincent Lucyszyn singled home the go-ahead run. Fisher went down in order in the bottom of the ninth and the 5-4 deficit stood.
Game Notes
- Sean Cleary struck out eight over five innings, his second-highest single game strikeout total of the season.
- The Cardinals tallied nine hits, the same as Houghton, but left nine runners on base.
- As a pitching staff, the Cardinals tallied ten strikeouts and allowed only one free pass.
Up Next
The Cardinals return to action against Houghton on Sunday, May 3. The first pitch at Dugan Yard is set for 3:00 PM.
