Fisher Falls to Suffolk in Opening Game of NCAA Regional
HARWICH, Mass. – The nationally-ranked and third-seeded St. John Fisher College baseball team fell to sixth-seeded Suffolk University, 4-0, on Thursday night in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship's New England Regional at Whitehouse Field. With the loss, which was Fisher's first-ever defeat in the opening game of an NCAA Regional, the Cardinals fell to 30-11 on the season and will face the loser of second-seeded Arcadia and seventh-seeded Worcester State at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Anthony Brophy pitched seven strong innings but was saddled with his first loss of the season (9-1) after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits. The freshman surrendered four walks and struck out four on the day.
Kyle Chambers allowed two runs (one earned) with three walks before being lifted for
Ryan Felske who tossed the final two innings.
After both teams traded zeroes over the first two innings, Suffolk struck first in the top of the third inning as a leadoff single came around to score after Fisher misplayed a ball on the left side of the infield.
The Cardinals, who have now played in two straight NCAA Championships and five overall, looked for a big inning in the bottom of the fourth as
Evan Ryan and
Ryan Fahy both reached with
Scott Eisenmenger coming to the dish, but Suffolk worked a strikeout followed by two quick outs to retire the side without yielding a run.
In the top of the fifth, the Rams threatened again after the first two hitters reached and moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt to put two in scoring position with just one out. Brophy battled through, however, and escaped the jam after inducing a pair of ground outs to third base to keep it a one-run game heading to the sixth inning.
Still trailing in the bottom of the seventh, Fisher had its best chance to put up a run. After a quick out to start the frame,
Allen Murphy drew a walk and moved to second when
Ryan Prevost singled to short. With two on and two away, senior
Jack Trotman drew a pinch hit walk to load the bases, but Fisher lifted a ball foul behind home plate that fell into Suffolk's catcher's glove to end the threat.
The Rams padded their lead in the eighth inning after drawing three walks with the bases loaded to claim a 4-0 edge heading to the home half of the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cardinals got something going as
Malcolm Kelsey worked a walk followed by a single up the middle off Trotman's bat, but as had been the case all game, the Rams were able to come up with a big out to win the game.
As a team, Fisher had just five hits led by Fahy who went 3-for-4. Prevost and Trotman rounded out the hitting. Overall, the Cardinals stranded 11 runners on base.