Cards’ winning streak snapped

Disappointed was the best way to describe the mentality of the St. John Fisher baseball team after losing three out of four to the Ithaca Bombers, dropping their record to 9-8.
“It was disappointing because we thought we let things slip away,” said Fisher manager Dan Pepicelli. “We really felt like that we could have split that series and maybe even won three out of four.”
That mentality quickly changed to motivated as the Cardinals quickly changed their fortunes to include an 8-1 record over a nine-day span, improving their once meager record to a solid 17-9.
The team started out its eight-game win streak with a victory over the University of Rochester, 8-6 in ten innings. The game was a back and forth battle for runs as Rochester’s right fielder Ed Kahovec hit in the tying run in the bottom of the ninth with a sacrifice fly RBI. Fisher’s Mike Palermo answered Kavohec’s challenge with a clutch two RBI double in the tenth to pull away from the Yellowjackets.
“We started out the game pretty flat and the first few innings weren’t very good,” said Fisher freshman Bob Toland. “But we got a little boost in us midway through and that put us over the top.”
The Cardinals then continued to roll through the week with two victories over Keuka College 8-2 and 12-1. Senior Andy Campbell had a good series going 4-6 with three RBIs. In the second game the Storm showed defensive ineptness as they committed five errors and allowed nine unearned runs to Fisher.
On April 12, the Cardinals hosted a doubleheader against SUNY Fredonia at Dugan Yard. In the first game, pitcher Greg McKeown struck out eight, and allowed fours hits, one being a two-run blast by Blue Devils right fielder Kyle Adams in the second inning. Fisher ended up with the victory 6-2. The second game was characterized by offense as the teams combined had an astonishing 28 hits with the Fisher prevailing 11-10.
Fisher then faced Empire 8 conference foe RIT for a four game set on April 14 and 15. In the first two games Fisher won 4-1 and 6-2 respectively. In the first game senior pitcher Matt Fuller pitched a gem, tossing a complete game three hitter with six strikeouts. In the night game, Fisher continued their success with Campbell going 2-2 with two runs and two RBIs.
In the third game on April 15, the combination of a dominate performance by pitcher Jim Junglen and Fisher’s athlete of the week Chris Botsford knocking in four runs helped the Cardinals defeat the Tigers 8-1.
Fisher’s eight-game win streak was finally snapped in the fourth and final game of the series. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when starter Eric Wernert was relieved after walking Tigers’ second baseman Brian Lindenau. Cardinals’ reliever Justin Lutes allowed five runs on six hits with one being charged to Wernert for the walk he allowed.
The new theme that Pepicelli is challenging his team with is the ability to maintain consistent. The team still has a grueling 14 regular season game schedule over the next two weeks.
“If we play as well as we’re capable of playing, we’re going to get everything we want out of this season,” said Pepicelli.

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