Houghton Drops Two to Fisher College to Start Season
FLEMINGTON, N.J. -- The Highlander baseball team started off the 2013 season with an opening-day double-header loss to Fisher (Mass.) College on Friday. The Falcons took game one, 11-3, and followed with a 7-4 decision in the second game.
In the first game, Fisher scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning, before Houghton responded with a run in the top of the fourth.
Jacob Bannerman (Wasaga Beach, ON, Canada, Stayner Collegiate Institute) tripled to center, then scored when
Kaiden Bowers (Brantford, ON, Canada, Assumption College School) grounded out to third.
The Falcons followed with seven runs over the next three innings, including four homeruns.
Houghton added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Bowers walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on an error when
Kameron Konert (Bolivar, NY, Bolivar-Richburg CS) hit a shot to the shortstop which was misplayed. With two runners on,
Patrick Parsons (Wellsboro, PA) singled home Bowers and moved Konert to second.
After
Jeremy Austin (Corning, NY, Corning East HS) was hit by a pitch, the Highlanders had the bases loaded with one out. With
Christopher McKay (Oakville, ON, Canada) at the plate, the Falcons catcher couldn't control the pitch, allowing Konert to score and the other Highlander runners to advance. However, McKay struck out looking for out number two and
Ignacio Villalobos (Brantford, ON, Canada, Assumption College School) flied out to center to end the game.
Bannerman and Parsons recorded the only Highlander hits, each going 1-for-3.
Seth Cornell (Almond, NY, Alfred-Almond CS) (0-1) got the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and eight earned runs over four and a third. He recorded eight strikeouts and allowed three homeruns.
Jacob Kocher (Caledonia, NY, Lima Christian School) pitched an inning and two thirds in relielf, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out two.
Game 2 - Fisher 7, Houghton 4
In the second game, it was the Highlanders who got the early hot start.
After
Michael Kerr (Hamburg, NY, Hamburg HS) reached got to second on an error, Bannerman singled Kerr home for the first Highlander run. A walk and passed ball put two more Highlanders in scoring position with just one one, but Konert and Austin struck out to end the top half of the inning. The Falcons evened the score at one in the bottom of the first.
In the second inning,
Michael Knapp (Brockport, NY) singled to right and scored on a double by Villalobos. Kerr singled home Villalobos, stole second and advanced to third on a Bannerman single. Another single by Bowers drove home Kerr and put Bannerman on third. Konert grounded out the third.
Down 3-1, the Falcons scored four runs in the bottom of the second and added single tallies in the fourth and fifth for the final tally.
The Highlanders recorded eight hits in game two, with three players (Kerr, Bannerman and Bowers) each credited with two. Kerr also scored two runs and drove in another. Villalobos, Bannerman and Bowers each had RBIs.
Jared Knowlton (Gouverneur, NY, Gouverneur HS) (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs over five innings. He struck out two.
Jonathan DeDell (Woodstock, VT) pitched an inning of relief, walking two and striking out one.
Fisher and Houghton return to the field Saturday for another twin bill.