Story written by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Associate Director of Athletics/Sports Information
UPLAND, IND. – The Fisher College Baseball season came to an end today at the 2023 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round as they fell in the first elimination game, 17-9 to Cumberland University (Tenn.). The Falcons finish the year with an overall record of 29-25 while the Phoenix advance to the second elimination game this evening against Tennessee Wesleyan.
After surrendering three runs in the home half of the first inning, the Fisher offense immediately responded in the second. Junior Jeremy Renta (Caguas, Puerto Rico) and graduate Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) led off with back-to-back singles, setting the stage for freshman Yariel Salinas (San Juan, Puerto Rico). Salinas smashed an offering deep over the right-center fence for his 8th home run of the season and tied the game at 3.
Cumberland wasted no time in regaining the lead as Trenton Duchsherer belted a solo home run to left to give the Phoenix a 4-3 advantage. Fisher, however, would take the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Graduate Michael Stellato (Lynnfield, Mass.) doubled down the left-field line to plate Salinas. Sophomore Coby Johnson (Wells, Maine) then singled up the middle to score junior Emanuel Rosado (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) and Stellato as the Falcons took a 6-4 lead.
Cumberland answered right back in the home half as they scored three times, highlighted by a RBI double to center from Dee Triplett. The score would remain 7-6 in favor of the home team on the scoreboard until the sixth inning when Cumberland plated nine runs to run away with the victory.
Fisher tried to chip their way back into the contest as they scored two runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth but it was not enough to extend the season as they ultimately fell by a 17-9 final.
Senior Angel Alicea (Caguas, Puerto Rico) received the loss on the mound for the Falcons. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits while walking five and striking out three over his two innings of work. Junior Yadiel Cuadrado (Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) was the starter and went three innings surrendering six runs (four earned) on four hits and striking out four. Senior Ronald Luke (Malden, Mass.) and sophomore Andres Meletiche (Guayanilla, Puerto Rico) spun the final three frames for the Falcons.
Offensively, Johnson and Salinas each went 2-for-4 with three RBI in the contest. Also adding two hits were Catalano and Rosado as the team out hit Cumberland, 11-10.
Cole Turney belted his 32nd home run of the season with a two-run shot in the first as he finished 2-for-4 with those two RBI for the Phoenix. Triplett, Duchsherer, and Juan Moreno all notched multi-hit games with Duchsherer registering four RBI.
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Here are the results from all of the action here in Upland:
Monday, May 15, 2023
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
Tuesday, May 15, 2023
Game Four | No. 3 Cumberland (Tenn.) 17, No. 5 Fisher (Mass.) 9
Game Five | No. 2 Taylor (Ind.) vs. No. 4 Point Park (Pa.) – 2:30pm
Game Six | No. 1 Tennessee Wesleyan vs. No. 3 Cumberland (Tenn.) – 6pm
Wednesday, May 16, 2023
Game Seven | Winner of Game Five vs. Winner of Game Six – 12pm