Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information
NORTHBORO, MASS. – Junior Nicholas Lucchese (Long Island, N.Y.) base-hit in the bottom of the ninth capped off a three run rally as the Fisher College Baseball team walked off this evening against Eastern Nazarene College, 6-5 in a thrilling contest under the lights at the New England Baseball Complex. The win sends the Falcons to a 7-1 overall record while the Lions fall in their season opener and stand at 0-1.
After surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, the Falcons dug deep and rallied for the walk off win. Freshman Dennis Santiago (Orlando, Fla.) reached second base on a throwing error and scored on a two-strike base hit from junior Jacob Deziel (Merrimac, Mass.) to make it a 5-4 ballgame. Junior Reynaldo Mejia (Lawrence, Mass.) then laid down a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt that moved Deziel to second, however the third baseman vacated to area and an alert Deziel took third to put the Falcons 90-feet away from tying the game.
The next batter, junior Victor Torres (Rochester, N.Y.) then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, which allowed Deziel to score to make it 5-5. Now with two outs, the bats remained red-hot as junior Elijah Perez (Lawrence, Mass.) laced a double in to the right-center gap setting the stage for Lucchese. Down to his last strike, Lucchese smashed a single into the left-center gap that allowed Perez to scamper home from second and give Fisher a thrilling 6-5 win.
All the heroics in the ninth overshadowed an outstanding pitching performance from freshman left-hander William Carpenter. The reining Association of Independent Institutions Pitcher of the Week was electric over his eight innings of the work. Carpenter allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out 15 on the night. Sophomore Angel Alicea (Caguas, Puerto Rico) picked up the win in relief as he retired the final out in the top of the ninth via a strikeout.
The 10-hit offensive attack for Fisher was paced by Deziel's 2-for-4 night with a RBI. Also collecting two hits in the contest was senior Mitchell Lundholm (Plymouth, Mass.) and freshman Ivanuel Hernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) as they both recorded extra-base hits (doubles) and RBIs.
Eastern Nazarene took the lead just two batters into the contest when junior Shane McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.) hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right-center fence. Those would be the only two earned runs the Lions would get off of Carpenter as their third run came after a throwing error in the eighth. Senior Retsyn Ootton (Pawtucket, R.I.) broke the 3-3 tie with a two-run home run of his own in the ninth inning, setting the stage for the dramatic Fisher comeback.
Sophomore Max Miednik (Parkland, Fla.) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Ootton finished with a 2-for-4, 2 RBI showing to lead the Eastern Nazarene offense. McNamara ended his night going 1-for-5 with the blast.
ENC left-handed sophomore Francis Ferguson (Jefferson, Mass.) got the opening day start and pitched well through three frames as he kept the Fisher offense in check, allowing just two runs (both earned) on three hits while striking out one. Junior Morgan Weast (Cincinnati, Ohio) then struck out three over his three innings of work, surrendering just four hits before senior Brenndan Rogers (Hanson, Mass.) did not allow a hit as he pitched into the ninth. Sophomore Jon Tessier (Coronado, Calif.) took the loss on the mound as he pitched 0.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits.
Fisher will return to action on Tuesday, March 9 as they travel to New London, Connecticut for a 3:30pm game at Mitchell College. Eastern Nazarene will host Saint Joseph's College of Maine in a double-header on March 13, beginning at 2pm.