Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Associate Director of Athletics

LYNN, MASS. – It was one of those wild days at the ballpark this afternoon for the Fisher College Baseball team as they used a pair of walk-off victories to sweep the weekend four-game set from Vermont State University Lyndon. The Falcons, winners of five consecutive games, also captured the program's 600th win – becoming just the second Boston area college baseball program to reach the plateau since 2002.

College Baseball Program wins since 2002:

1. Northeastern University (NCAA Division I) | 607
2. Fisher College (NAIA) | 601
3. Boston College (NCAA Division I) | 574
4. Suffolk University (NCAA Division III) | 515
5. University of Mass.-Boston (NCAA Division III) | 469

The wins over the former Sunrise Conference foes, lift the Falcons to an overall record of 8-17 on the season. Vermont State remains winless to start their season at 0-6.

Game One: Fisher College 6, Vermont State Lyndon 5 (Final)

Junior Michael Wright (Winnipeg, Manitoba) laced a one-out 2 RBI double just inside the first base bag to complete the comeback and send the Falcons to a wild walk-off win for program victory number 600.

Fisher had control of the contest through the first five innings of play. Junior Yadiel Cuadardo (Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) limited the Hornet offense until the sixth frame when Vermont State stung him for four runs to tie the game at 4-4. VSU's Matt Doherty smashed a one-out triple to center that plated two runs and then scored on a single by Anthony Ness.

With momentum starting to shift towards the first base dugout, the Hornets sat the Falcons down in order in the home half of the sixth and then capitalized in the top of the seventh. TJ Santaw lifted a sacrifice fly to center that allowed Brandon Fernandez to scamper home for the 5-4 lead. Vermont State was still threating before freshman Joziel Carmona (Comerio, Puerto Rico) came out of the bullpen and slammed the door shut with a pair of strikeouts.

Those two huge strikeouts, shifted the momentum back in the favor of the Falcons. After a flyout to begin the frame, freshman Jatnier Torres (Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico) walked and advanced on a ground-rule double from senior Jeremy Renta (Caguas, Puerto Rico). Sophomore Adrian Colon (Barranquitas, Puerto Rico) pinched ran for Renta setting the stage for Wright's heroics.

Wright finished the contest 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs while senior Jose Aybar (Santo Domingo, D.R.) was also 2-for-3 with two RBIs of his own. Renta also collected a pair of knocks as he was 2-for-4 with a RBI.

Cuardrado received the no-decision after throwing 5.1 innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on four hits and striking out six. Carmona picked up his second win of the season after his two-strikeout performance.

Dale Ostermann suffered the loss as he surrendered the game-winning run to cross in the seventh. Ostermann was charged with two runs (both earned) on two hits and one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work. Left-handed starter Carlos Rodriguez limited the Faclon offense to just six hits over his 5 innings of work, giving up four runs (three earned) with three strikeouts.

Doherty made his one hit count as he finished 1-for-4 with 2 RBI. Santaw collected an RBI going 1-for-2 from the leadoff spot and Matt Gonyeau added an RBI of his own as he was 1-for-3.

Game Two: Fisher College 8, Vermont State Lyndon 7 (Final)

Another wild ending to the final game of the four-game set as a single and two base error allowed the winning run to score from first base as the Falcons completed the series sweep in a crazy 8-7 contest.

Sophomore Gabriel Rivera (Miramar, Fla.) batted in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first in Aybar. The South Florida native scorched a single to right field that was able to elude the glove of the rightfielder and find the base of the fence. Aybar rounded second and never looked back to cap the wild scene at Fraser Field.

The Falcons found themselves trailing in the nightcap, 5-3 entering the home half of the sixth inning. The relisent squad clawed their way to a two-run lead with a four-run frame, highlighted by a 2-RBI triple from sophomore Armando Torres (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico).

However, it was short lived as the Hornets tied the game immediately in the top of the seventh. With two outs and runners on second and third, a ball in the dirt hit the lip of the plate and bounced to the backstop that plated Ness. Santaw then beat out a slow grounder in the infield which allowed Evan Duncan to score and tie the game – setting the stage for the home half dramatics.

In the fateful seventh against right-hander Sean Cavanaugh, Aybar reached base with one-out via a hit by pitch before Rivera was able to put the ball in play and the walk-off celebrations ensued.

Senior Fernando Ortiz (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) picked up the win with 0.2 innings of work, allowing an infield hit and striking out one. Graduate student Jonathan Toro Mesa (Oranjestad, Aruba) surrendered four runs (all earned) on seven hits while striking out seven as the Falcon starter.

Offensively, Fisher was powered by Armando Torres, who finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI from the leadoff spot. Rivera and sophomore Brendon Trohon (Danvers, Mass.) each went 2-for-3 – Trohon had an RBI – and Salinas plated a run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Ryan Alt picked up a pair of base knocks as he was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Hornets in the finale. Kearson Grisham led the team with a 3-for-5 showing while Santaw ended his afternoon 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Cavanaugh receives the tough luck loss allowing two unearned runs in relief of starter Mike Redmond. The right-hander kept the Falcons at bay for most of the contest as he went 5.1 innings of work – giving up six runs (five earned) on seven hits.
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Fisher will look to continue the winning streak later this week as they host the University of Maine-Presque Isle for a three-game set, beginning on Thursday night at 7pm.