Story written by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Associate Director of Athletics/Sports Information
UPLAND, IND. – The 2023 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round got underway today as the No. 5 Fisher College Baseball team dropped the 11am contest to No. 4 Point Park by a 20-3 final. The loss sends the Falcons to an elimination game tomorrow morning against No. 3 Cumberland (Tenn.), who lost against bracket host No. 2 Taylor University, 3-2.
The game was a back-and-forth battle early on as the two teams traded runs. In the third inning, the Falcons took the 2-1 lead courtesy of a RBI single from junior Jeremy Renta (Caguas, Puerto Rico). However, the Pioneers rallied to plate three runs in the home half of the third before exploding for an eight run fourth, fueled by some fielding miscues by the Falcons. Point Park would then add runs in the fifth (3) and seventh (5) to earn the victory and advance to the 6pm contest against No. 1 Tennessee Wesleyan.
Renta and classmate Ivanuel Hernandez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) led the way offensively for Fisher, who pounded out 12 hits in the contest, as they each went 3-for-5. Freshman Yariel Salinas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) added a RBI double on his 1-for-3 morning and junior Emanuel Rosado (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) recorded the third RBI for the Falcons as he went 1-for-4.
Sophomore starter Vance Serrano (Las Vegas, Nev.) got the ball and suffered the loss as he allowed six runs on six hits over three innings of work. The right-hander, who was one of nine pitchers in the contest, walked three batters and did not record a strikeout. Sophomore Esteban Santos-Fuentes (Caguas, Puerto Rico) and freshman Cesar Rodriguez (Toa Alta, Puerto Rico) each turned in scoreless frames of relief.
Point Park was powered by a pair of grand slams from Carlos Martinez in the fourth and Carlos Burroughs in the seventh. Easton Klein picked up the victory on the mound as he went five innings surrendering three runs on nine hits and striking out six.
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Here are the results from the first day of action here in Upland:
Game One | No.4 Point Park (Pa.) 20, No. 5 Fisher (Mass.) 3
Game Two | No. 2 Taylor (Ind.) 3, No. 3 Cumberland (Tenn.) 2
Game Three | No. 4 Point Park (Pa.) 8, No. 1 Tennessee Wesleyan 4
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Here is tomorrow's schedule:
Game Four | No. 3 Cumberland (Tenn.) vs. No. 5 Fisher (Mass.) – 11am
Game Five | No. 2 Taylor (Ind.) vs. No. 4 Point Park (Pa.) – 2:30pm
Game Six | No. 1 Tennessee Wesleyan vs. Winner of Game Four – 6pm