Fisher Eliminated From NCAAs With Loss to Babson
HARWICH, Mass. – The nationally-ranked and third-seeded St. John Fisher College baseball team was eliminated on Saturday as the No. 18 Cardinals fell to Babson College, 12-8, in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship's New England Regional at Whitehouse Field. With the defeat, Fisher, which played in its second consecutive NCAA Championship and fifth overall, ended its season with a 31-12 overall record. Fifth-seeded Babson improved to 27-14 with the win and advanced to play another elimination game later Saturday evening.
It didn't take long for Fisher to get on the board as the Cardinals plated one run in the top of the first on two hits.
Evan Ryan singled through the left side and moved to third after a throwing error by the Beavers' infield before crossing home plate as
Scott Eisenmenger was credited with an RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice.
In the home half of the inning, Babson's bats came to life as the Beavers produced seven runs on five hits and a Cardinals' error to open up a six-run lead, 7-1, heading to the top of the second.
After stranding a pair in the top of the second, Fisher fell behind 11-1 in the bottom of the frame as Babson chased the Cardinals' starter,
Jim Dawson, and plated four more runs on four hits before Fisher could get off the field.
Fisher had something going in the top of the third after loading the bases before an out had been recorded, but only managed to score one run to bring it to 11-2.
Ryan Fahy reached on an infield error to lead off the inning before back-to-back singles by Eisenmenger and
Malcolm Kelsey put a Cardinal on every base. Babson would escape the jam, however, after getting the next hitter to ground into a double play before inducing a groundout to first base to retire the side.
Babson struck again in the bottom of the third, but the Cardinals responded with four runs on three hits to pull to within six runs, 12-6.
Thomas Pasquale led off the frame with a single through the left side and moved into scoring position as
Jack Vivinetto worked a walk. With two on, Murphy drove a single to center to load the bases before Ryan came up with an RBI knock to left to make it 12-3. With the bases still loaded and one away, Eisenmenger was hit by a pitch and picked up an RBI as Vivinetto crossed home plate. As the inning continued, the runners moved up a base on a wild pitch with Murphy scoring on the play before Kelsey pushed another run across the plate with a groundout to the right side.
Still trailing by six runs in the top of the eighth,
Justin Graham singled to center and moved up a base when
Jack Trotman, who entered as a pinch hitter, drew a base on balls. With two on and just one out, Fisher was set up for a big inning, but the Beavers came up with their second double play of the game to hold the Cardinals at bay.
Fisher continued to grind in the top of the ninth and loaded the bases before Kelsey lifted a sacrifice fly to right to pull Fisher to within 12-7.
Nate Roethel made it a four-run game with a pinch-hit RBI fielder's choice, but that was as close as the Cardinals would come as the Beavers held on for the win.
Dawson (6-2) took the ball to start and was saddled with the loss after allowing nine runs (five earned) of six hits.
Kevin Berge completed the second inning but allowed two runs on three hits before being lifted for
DJ Mendenhall who yielded one run and four hits over four innings of work.
Caleb Lee threw two scoreless innings to wrap up the game.