For the first time in program history, the Keuka College Baseball team swept St. John Fisher University in a doubleheader.
Keuka College (8-8, 2-3 Empire 8) won the first game of the Empire 8 Conference doubleheader 4-1. The second game took extra-innings, but the Wolves prevailed 6-5 over the Cardinals for the sweep.
Keuka College 4 at St. John Fisher University 1 – Game 1
Keuka College looked to take the lead early as Tyler Lewandowski (Milltown, N.J. / Spotswood) led off the game with a single and Alex Evans (Liverpool, N.Y. / Liverpool) followed with a hit of his own. An infield single by Derek Novicki (North Haven, Conn. / North Haven) loaded the bases with one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Wolves got the run back in the fourth. Mike Dutch (Manlius, N.Y. / Fayetteville-Manlius) led off with a single and was bunted to second. He then scored on an RBI single by Ian Ruhmel (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) to tie the game.
Keuka College took the lead two innings later. Novicki led off with a single for the Wolves. An error and a pair of outs left the Wolves with runners on first and second and two outs. John Valinoti (Babylon, N.Y. / Babylon) delivered and pinch-hit RBI single to give Keuka College a 2-1 lead.
Starting pitcher Keegan Ferris (Elbridge, N.Y. / Jordan Elbridge) was in control all game, keeping the host Cardinals off balanced at the plate. He got a pair of groundouts and a flyout in the sixth to send the game to the final inning with the Wolves leading 2-1.
Three straight singles by Ruhmel, Lewandowski, and Evans led off the seventh for Keuka. Evan’s knock scored Ruhmel. Tyler Lewandowski would steal third and score on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Wood (Newark, N.Y. / Newark) to make it 4-1.
Ferris got a flyout and strikeout to start the bottom of the frame. Following a hit by pitch, the senior would end it getting a flyout to center as Keuka College defeated St. John Fisher University 4-1.
Keuka College 6 at St. John Fisher University 5 (10 inn.) – Game 2
The Wolves used a two-out rally in the fourth to take the lead over the Cardinals in game two. Carlos Fantauzzi (Canandaigua, N.Y. / Canandaigua Academy) started the rally with a single to left. Mike Dutch followed with a double and Fantauzzi scored on an RBI single from Ethan Drinon (Middleburgh, N.Y. / Schoharie) to give the Wolves the lead.
The lead would be short-lived as St. John Fisher scored a pair in the bottom of the frame to take a 2-1 lead of their own.
St. John Fisher’s lead would hold until the seventh. Dutch walked for the Wolves then Drinon followed with a single and Dutch advanced to third on an error. John Valinoti then delivered another pinch-hit RBI, this time scoring Dutch on a groundout to level the game at 2-2.
Again, the Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the inning as a sacrifice fly gave the hosts the lead back at 3-2.
The game would go to the ninth inning. Derek Novicki led off with a single. Jay Antinore (Batavia, N.Y. / Batavia Notre Dame) pinch ran and stole second. He scored on an RBI single by Carlos Fantauzzi. The game would go to extra innings tied at 3-3.
Tyler Lewandowski led off the tenth with a single and was bunted to second. Lewandowski stole third which led Fisher to decide to intentionally walk Kyle Wood. Wood stole second, and the Cardinals decided to intentionally walk Carlos Fantauzzi to load the bases with one out. Mike Dutch was next up. He would be hit by the pitch to force in a run, giving Keuka the lead. Ethan Drinon came to the plate and worked a walk to force in another run. Logan Meisner (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira Notre Dame) pinch hit for the Wolves and he too was hit by the pitch to force in a third run as Keuka led 6-3.
St. John Fisher did not go quietly as the Cardinals rallied in the bottom of the inning. They scored a pair of runs and got the tying run to third base, but Jesse Capitano (Depew, N.Y. / Depew) got a flyout to end the game with Keuka defeating St. John Fisher 6-5 to earn the sweep.
KC Notes:
- With the sweep, Keuka College earns their second and third wins ever against St. John Fisher University in 48 games. The previous only Keuka win was a 1-0 shutout victory over Fisher in 2003
- Keuka College earned their 300th victory in program history with the sweep
- The Wolves had 12 hits in game one as a team, led by multi-hit performances by Lewandowski, Evans, Novicki, and Ruhmel
- Keegan Ferris got the complete-game victory for the Green and Gold in game one. He struck out three in his seven innings of work
- Ethan Drinon set a new career high with three hits in game two. He had a double and drove in two runs for the Wolves
- Shane Daley (Elma, N.Y. / Iroquois) pinch hit in the tenth to bunt Lewandowski to second. It was the 16th sacrifice bunt of his career, tying the Keuka College record
- Wyatt Ernst (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan / Holy Cross) started on the mound for the Wolves in game two, going 6.1 innings while allowing just four hits and striking out two
- Jesse Capitano pitched the final three innings for the Wolves to earn his first win of the season
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves and Cardinals have one more game in their Empire 8 Conference series. Game three of the series will be on Sunday at St. John Fisher with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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