PITTSFORD, NY— A two-out infield error scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, as the St. John Fisher Cardinals defeated the Houghton Highlanders on Sunday afternoon, 8-6.
With the Highlanders leading, 5-3, in the fifth, Brody Becker laced a full-count, two-RBI double to tie the score.
Houghton regained the lead in the sixth after
Christian Tortorici walked, stole second and third, and came home on a sacrifice fly by
Olsin Waldorf.
Jordan Perry answered for the Cardinals in the bottom of the seventh with a homerun to right, once again tying the score, 6-6.
With a runner on third and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Houghton reliever
Mathew Gross induced what looked like an inning-ending ground ball. But the ball skipped between the legs of the Houghton infielder, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Fisher would plate one additional run on a wild pitch to complete the scoring.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 6 | St. John Fisher – 8
Records: Houghton: 15-21 (6-16 Empire 8) | St. John Fisher: 27-10 (16-6 Empire 8)
Venue: Dugan Yard, St. John Fisher University | Attendance: 124
KEY STATS
>> Tortorici finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. He capped his season with a team-best 53 hits, completing only the fourth season in Houghton (NCAA-era) history with a batting average over .400 (.408). His career .467 on-base percentage is also the highest in Houghton history.
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Vincent Lucyszyn also finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He compiled 127 career runs scored, second-most in Highlander baseball history, behind only David Wessells (2017-21, 136). Lucyszyn also holds the record for most hit-by-pitches (41) and ranks first among Houghton shortstops in career fielding percentage (.930).
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James Nelson finished the season with a .482 on-base percentage, second only to Tortorici, logging 38 hits, eight walks, and a new single-season record 19 hit-by-pitch.
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Aiden Talcott capped his career with 13 wins, tying him for second all-time with Ryan Newtown (2021-23), trailing only former-teammate
Ethan Cetton (2021-25, 17). Fellow pitcher
Christopher Gross finished with a team-best 3.40 ERA, striking out 60 batters in 50.1 innings of work. Gross finished his career with 152 strikeouts, averaging 11.28 K/9, tops in Highlanders history.
