Fisher Routs Penn State Altoona Behind D'Amato's 13 Stikeouts
The St. John Fisher College baseball team blew out Penn State Altoona 21-4 on Saturday morning at the Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven Florida. Fisher was powered by an overwhelming performance from starting pitcher Justin D’Amato. With the win the Cardinals move to 3-1 on the season while Altoona drops its first game of 2012.
The reigning Empire 8 Conference Pitcher and Rookie of the Year took the hill and struck out the first eight batters he faced. D’Amato struck out another five in the next two innings, finishing with 13 strikeouts, no walks while surrendering two earned runs on just two hits.
Fisher failed to score in the first inning but broke the door open in the second, scoring seven runs to give D’Amato a cushion on the mound. Matt Klock doubled with one out and Ben Ward followed with the Cardinals’ first home run of the day. Sean Osterman stepped into the box and hit his first triple of the day and was driven in by Nicholas Flemister’s single. Peter Krysztof walked and stole second before scoring on a Chris Roeder single through the left side. Ben Bostick then singled before Steve Karnyski came up and doubled to drive both him and Roeder in.
The Cardinals one upped itself in the fourth, scoring eight runs, including back-to-back home runs, a two-run shot by Karnyski followed by a solo shot by Brad Rush. Fisher added three runs in the fifth and the seventh to round out the production at 21.
Karnsyki led the Cardinals on offense with four RBI, a run scored and two hits. Flemister, Krysztof, Roeder, Ward and Osterman also finished with two hits. Both of Osterman’s hits went for triples and two RBI. Ward finished with three RBI while Matthew Cahill added two. Fisher stole six bases in the game.
Raymond Messner and Mike Rynerson ate up the last two innings for the Cardinals. Rynerson pitched a scoreless seventh inning, having two strikeouts and giving up just two hits. Messner walked one, gave up one hit and two runs.