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

LYNN, MASS. – A wild walk-off win in the nightcap propelled the Fisher College Baseball team to a spilt of today's double-header against Lesley University at Fraser Field. The Falcons are now 9-10 on the season while the Lynx slide to 3-5.

It was a homecoming for first-year Lesley Head Coach Cody Mercier and assistant Adam Lucey. Both coaches played all four-years of collegiate baseball for Fisher under Head Coach Scott Dulin. Mercier, the all-time program leader in home runs, was also inducted into the Fisher Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

Game One: Lesley University 4, Fisher College 3 (Final)

The Lynx plated three runs in the top of the first inning and added another in the second to hold on to a 4-3 victory in the day's opening game.

Lesley's Cal Caruso and Colin McCarthy each doubled in runs off of Fisher southpaw starter junior Lucas Earle (Oro-Medonte, Ontario) in the team's first plate appearance. Raymond Morales chipped in with a RBI single in the second before a call to the bullpen was made.

Trailing by four runs in the 6th inning, the Falcons started to rally. With two runners on and two outs, junior Yariel Salinas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) smashed his fifth home run of the season, deep into the right-field parking lot, to bring the Falcons within a run. However, that would be as close as they would get as they left the tying run in scoring position to end the contest.

Andrew Gryniewicz earned the complete game victory as he stuck out five and allowed six hits (three runs) for his first win of the season.

Earle falls to 2-3 on the year after surrendering four runs (all earned) on seven hits in just 1.2 innings of work. Junior Jan Melendez (Yabucoa, Puerto Rico) was the unsung hero of the pen as he tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless baseball.

Game Two: Fisher College 10, Lesley University 9 (Final/9-inn.)

A five-run bottom of the seventh set up the dramatics in the ninth for senior Michael Wright (Winnipeg, Manitoba) as the Falcons completed the comeback for a thrilling 10-9 win in extra innings.

Wright's two-out flare single to left field plated classmate Jose Aybar (Santo Domingo, D.R.) to give the team their ninth win of the season and second win of the weekend. Fisher was trailing by a run in the home half of the ninth after a perfectly placed two-out RBI bunt single from Christian McElroy. Junior Gilbert Gomez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) worked a pinch-hit walk and was pinch-ran for immediately by freshman Angel Castillo (Lawrence, Mass.). With two outs, Aybar singled sharply to centerfield to move the tying run into scoring position.

Torres then lined the first pitch he saw into right-field to score Castillo before Wright dropped with walk off knock.

Junior William DeGracia (Canovanas, Puerto Rico) improved to 3-1 on the year with two innings of relief. Fellow junior Maylo Sierra (Bartlesville, Okla.) received a no-decision after allowing six runs on six hits over his five innings of work.

Morales (0-1) was on the bump for Lesley in the ninth and was credited with the loss.

Aybar was the offensive leader out of the nine-hole for the Falcons as he collected four hits (4-for-5) and scored two runs. Torres finished the nightcap going 3-for-6 with two RBI and Wright added his own three hit performance as he ended with a 3-for-5, 3 RBI night. Sophomore Alejandro Villar (Miami, Fla.) chipped in with three hits and senior Anthony Ventura (Santo Domingo, D.R.) contributed a 2-for-4 showing at the dish.

The Lynx's offensive was powered by a first-inning three run homer from McCarthy. The designated hitter went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the second contest. James Brandon registered three hits (3-for-4) with two RBI and catcher Kevin Dorsey knocked in a pair of runs – finishing 1-for-3 at the plate.
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This is just the second time that a former Fisher baseball student-athlete has defeated his alma mata as a head coach. Current Associate Director of Athletics, Anthony Perry '08 was the first former Falcon to accomplish that feat back on March 30, 2016 – a 14-7 win for Rivier University at Fraser Field.

Both these programs will return to the friendly confines of Fraser Field on Tuesday night for the rubber-game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm.