Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Assistant Athletic Director/Sports Information
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. – It was a historic day down in Lawrenceville, Georgia as for the first time in program history, the Fisher College Baseball team defeated a #1 ranked team with a 3-2 victory over #1 Georgia Gwinnett College in game one of the day's double-header.
The win is the first win over a NAIA Top-10 opponent in the 21 years of Fisher Baseball. Previously, The Falcons biggest win was over #11 Cumberlands (Ky.), 8-3, back on March 12, 2019.
Game One: Fisher College 3, #1 Georgia Gwinnett College 2 (Final)
Senior Christian Dow (Rochester, N.H.) returned to the mound at the Grizzly Baseball Complex for the first time since pitching the Falcons into the NAIA Opening Round last spring. His return was nothing short than magical as he tossed 6.2 of no-hit baseball on his way to a complete game win over the top ranked team in the county.
It was a pitcher's duel throughout most of the game as Dow and GGC junior right-hander Rob Hamby (Demorest, Ga.) traded zeros until the sixth inning. In the top half, the Falcons scratched for a run and the lead as senior Victor Torres (Rochester, N.Y.) crossed the plate on a fielder's choice groundout by classmate Nicholas Lucchese (Long Island, N.Y.).
Gwinnett tied the game in the home half of the seventh when junior Myles McKisic (Delray Beach, Fla.) laced a single to left field that fell just in front of the diving effort from Fisher senior outfielder Jordan Gosselin (Rochester, N.H.).
The top of the eighth saw the Falcons take the lead and add some insurance. Sophomore Miguel Torres (Villalba, Puerto Rico) singled to begin the frame and was followed with a walk to sophomore Jose Neris (Caguas, Puerto Rico) and an infield single from Victor Torres. After a fly out to shallow left field, Lucchese entered with the biggest hit of his career. He lined a fastball from GGC reliever senior Rhian Mann (Lawrenceville, Ga.) over the outstretched second baseman into right-center that plated both sophomore Jeremy Renta (Caguas, Puerto Rico), who was the courtesy runner for the catcher – Miguel Torres, and Neris.
Gwinnett freshman Braxton Meguiar (Auburn, Ky.) lifted a two-out double to deep center in the home half of the inning as the two teams entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 Fisher advantage.
Dow, who had yet to reach 100 pitches, walked the leadoff hitter to set the stage and the drama for the rest of the game. A sacrifice bunt from junior Blaze O'Saben (Warrenton, Va.) moved the pinch-runner in sophomore Adam Alicea-Brooks (Fairburn, Ga.) into scoring position with one away. Dow then proceeded to get sophomore Chris Evans (Newnan, Ga.) to fly out to center before McKisic hit a weak fly ball to left field where Gosselin made the catch to end the game.
Dow improves to 2-0 on the season after a stellar 9-inning effort in which he limited the dangerous Grizzly offense to just two runs on four hits and striking out two. Lucchese was just 1-for-4 but recorded all three RBI. Miguel Torres went 2-for-4 as did Victor Torres.
Hamby suffered the loss for Gwinnet as he allowed two runs on five hits and striking out six. Mann finished the ball game with two innings of relief, surrendering one run on two hits while recording one strikeout. Meguiar was 1-for-3 with a RBI double and McKisic ended his afternoon 1-for-4 with a RBI double.
The wins snaps a 17-game losing streak to the Grizzlies dating back to 2014.
Game Two: #1 Georgia Gwinnett College 21, Fisher College 1 (Final)
The four-game series ended with a 21-1 defeat to the top-ranked Grizzlies. Senior Cameron Pearson (Orlando, Fla.) went 2-for-3 with a RBI. Victor Torres, Lucchese and senior Elijah Perez (Lawrence, Mass.) also collected base knocks in the loss. Sophomore Joseph Ortiz (Guayama, Puerto Rico) was credited with the loss as he surrendered six runs on four hits without recording an out in the first.
Sophomore left-hander Tyler Clayton (Douglasville, Ga.) was the winning pitcher for GGC as he tossed five innings allowing one run on four hits and striking out seven. Senior Livingston Morris (Woodstock, Ga.) led the team offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI.
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Fisher will return to the field tomorrow afternoon as they travel to Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tennessee. Game time is scheduled for 5pm EST. Georgia Gwinnett will travel to Brewton-Parker for their next scheduled matchup on Tuesday afternoon.