Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information
NEW LONDON, CONN. – The Fisher College Baseball team wrapped up their six-game opening week with a double-header split against Mitchell College this afternoon. The Falcons stormed back twice in game one, walking away with a thrilling 12-11 extra-inning victory before being shut out in the nightcap 5-0, in a shortened 5-inning game due to darkness. Fisher is now 5-1 on the season while the Mariners sit at 1-1 after their season opening two games.
Game One: Fisher College 12, Mitchell College 11 (Final/9-inn.)
In an instant classic, the Falcons rallied three times to finally secure victory as they took the opener, 12-11. Trailing 4-1 entering the fourth inning, the Fisher offense erupted for six runs on five hits to take a 7-4 lead. However, Mitchell battled back and re-gained the lead with a four run sixth inning putting the Falcons against the wall with three outs to play with. The never say die attitude thrived in the top of the seventh as Fisher tied the game on a RBI double from Elijah Perez (Lawrence, Mass.) and proceeded to plate three more runs. Again, Mitchell fought back by forcing extra innings with a three run home half of the inning and it remained tied at 11 until the ninth.
Senior Mitchell Lundholm (Plymouth, Mass.) singled and stole second with one before advancing to third on a deep fly out, putting the eventual winning run at third base with two-outs. Sophomore John Batista (Lawrence, Mass.) then hit a routine groundball to third but the throw was low and could not be picked which allowed Lundholm to score to give Fisher a 12-11 lead. Junior Christian Dow (Rochester, N.H.), the scheduled game two starter, then shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to earn his second save and the team's fifth straight win.
Perez finished the game leading the team going 3-for-6 with a RBI and two runs scored. Lundholm added a 2-for-3 afternoon with three RBI and freshman Dennis Santiago (Orlando, Fla.) chipped in with a 2-for-4 showing at the dish. Freshman Andres Meletiche (Guayanilla, Puerto Rico) picked up his first collegiate win with a scoreless 1.2 inning of work, striking out one and walking one. Angel Rivera was the main reason the Falcons remained in the contest as the right-hander tossed 4 innings of one-hit ball, surrendering two runs (both earned) while striking out four.
The Mitchell offense was powered by junior Anthony Stigler (Mansfield Center, Conn.), who finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Classmate Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) also ended the afternoon with three RBI with a three-run homer in the sixth. Senior Steve Cochrane (East Haven, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the loss for the Mariners. Junior Sam Majewski (Brewster, Mass.) was credited with the tough loss after allowing one unearned run on one hit over his 2.2 innings of work while striking out six.
Game Two: Mitchell College 5, Fisher College 0 (Final/5-inn.)
Due to the length of the day's first game, three hours and 30 minutes, game two was stopped after the fifth inning due to darkness at the field. Mitchell ended the Falcons five-game winning streak with a 5-0 win in the night cap of the twin-bill.
Fisher could manage only three hits off Mitchell senior starter Jakari Pellegrini (New Britain, Conn.). Santiago notched two of those three hits as he went a perfect 2-for-2 and sophomore Reynaldo Vega (Aguada, Puerto Rico) added the other base knock, going 1-for-2 in the five inning affair. Dow suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits despite striking out eight over his four innings of work in game two. Freshman Garrett Kingston (Tewksbury, Mass.) made his debut on the mound, recording the last out of the contest with a strikeout.
Mitchell scored at least a run in the each of the final four frames highlighted by sophomore Lelo Martinez (New London, Conn.), who finished the game 3-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Robbie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) knocked in two runs on his 1-for-3 night along with senior Jeremy Sagun (Montville, Conn.). Pellegrini pitched a complete game for his first win of the season not allowing a run over his five innings of work. The left-hander gave up three hits and struck out five without issuing a walk.
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Fisher will return to action this upcoming weekend with a double-header on the schedule against Worcester State University. First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 11am. Mitchell will host Rhode Island College next Sunday in a 1pm 9-inning contest.