HOUGHTON, N.Y.—Typically a power-ball team, the #18 St. John Fisher Cardinals (20-6, 7-0 Empire 8) scored five runs in the seventh inning using a bit of small-ball to defeat the Houghton Highlanders (12-18, 2-11 Empire 8), 9-4.
Fisher capitalized on four ground ball singles, including two bunts, a sacrifice fly and three Houghton errors in their big inning.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the first, hitting the ball hard to all fields.
Houghton answered with two runs in the second when
Jeremy Newswanger hit a two-out single through the right side, scoring Garret Kirpatrick, and
Bryan Hodge scored on a wild pitch.
Highlander starter
Victor Cavalieri settled in after the first, allowing only one run over the next five innings. He would end his night with seven strikeouts and only one walk after 6.1 innings of work.
With the score 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth, the first two Houghton batters reached safely and Hodge sacrificed them to second and third.
Newswanger then hit a ground ball to shortstop and
Ethan Duryea slid into home ahead of the tag as the ball skipped away, leaving runners on second and third with one out and the Highlanders trailing by only one. St. John Fisher starter Anthony Brophy, however, retired the next two Houghton batters to quell the rally.
The Highlanders threatened a few more times, but were unable to draw closer as the Cardinals pulled away and held on for the victory.
Kirkpatrick finished his night 3-for-4 with a double, while
Tage Johnson and Duryea each added two hits apiece.
Coach's Corner:
"We were right there. If we had executed one or two more plays in the seventh it's a very different ballgame.
I thought Victor [Cavalieri] actually threw really well tonight. He had a rough first inning, but after that he pitched really well. His numbers are a little deceiving.
We needed a couple extra hits with runners in scoring position but just didn't get them. We'll come back ready to play tomorrow."
Next Time Out:
Houghton squares off with St. John Fisher again tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. Houghton will honor their six seniors prior to the first pitch.
