Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Associate Director of Athletics
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. – It was a wild scene for the Fisher College Baseball team this evening as they outlasted Indiana Tech, 7-6 in a 12-inning affair at the Grizzly Baseball Complex. The walk-off win send the Falcons to a 4-17 overall record while the Warriors slide to 2-7 on the season.
Trailing 6-5 with one out in the bottom of the ninth, senior Miguel Torres (Villalba, Puerto Rico) blasted his first home run of the season, a game-tying shot into the home bullpen to force the game into extra frames. In the 12th, senior Emanuel Rosado (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) lined a single to left field that allowed junior Michael Wright (Winnipeg, Manitoba), who led off the inning with a walk, to score from second and send the Falcons back to Boston with a much needed and well-earned victory.
Junior Vance Serrano (Las Vegas, Nev.) got the start on the bump for Fisher and grinded his way through 4.1 innings as the Warriors scratched across six runs on seven hits. However, junior Yadriel Cuadrado (Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) was near perfect in relief as he single handedly kept the team within striking distance. The left-hander tossed six hit-less innings while striking out six. Freshman Joziel Carmona (Comerio, Puerto Rico) picked up the win as he pitched a 1-2-3 top of the 12th frame with two strikeouts.
Indiana Tech jumped out to an early lead in the first inning on a two-run homer from Parker Bates. ITU then added two more big flies off the bats of Brice Stultz – 2nd inning – and Jack Ferguson – 3rd inning – as they led 6-0 after 4.5 innings of play.
The comeback started in the bottom of the fifth as Fisher pushed across their first run as sophomore Yariel Salinas (Caguas, Puerto Rico) tripled home Wright. In the sixth inning, freshman Jatnier Torres (Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico) laced a two-RBI single to center and sophomore Armando Torres (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico) followed with an RBI single through the left side to make it a 6-5 game entering the ninth and setting the stage for Miguel Torres.
Seth Leininger took the loss on the mound for the Warriors as he pitched an inning plus allowing the eventual winning run. Ryan Uhlenhake spun four shutout innings with six strikeouts as the starter before giving way to the bullpen,
Bates was the leading hitter for Indiana Tech as he finished 2-for-5 with the HR and two RBI. He was the only member of the lineup to record multiple hits.
Both Miguel Torres and Armando Torres went 3-for-5 for the Falcons while Wright finished 4-for-6 to pace the offensive effort. Jatnier Torres and Salinas also finished with multi-hit nights for Fisher.
The Falcons will enjoy the long bus ride after the win, as they venture home after a grueling nine-game, 12-day road trip through Kentucky, South Carolina, and Georgia. They will welcome Vermont State University Lyndon on Saturday afternoon to the friendly confines of Fraser Field. First pitch is scheduled for 12pm.