AUBURN, N.Y. – History was made on Tuesday as the St. John Fisher College baseball team opened up its season with a sweep of Clarkson University that included a combined team no-hitter in the nightcap at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park. Shortstop Justin Graham also became just the seventh player in team history to reach the 200-hit plateau on Tuesday as the Cardinals, who are receiving votes in the latest D3baseball.com poll, improved to 2-0. The Golden Knights fell to 0-2 to begin their year.
The no-hitter marks the fourth in Fisher's history and is the first since Marc Iseneker held Elmira hitless in 2016.
FISHER 8, CLARKSON 6
After giving up a run in the top of the first, Fisher's bats came to life in the home half of the second. Following a groundout to start the inning, Ben Lavery reached first on a throwing error by the Golden Knight's shortstop. Clarkson was poised to get out of the inning, but Adam Zebrowski drew a two-out walk before James Ward, Jr. stepped in laced an RBI-single up the middle for his first career hit. Tied at one run apiece, Luke Duffy came to bat and belted a two-run double to right to make it 3-1 in Fisher's favor before the Golden Knights could retire the side.
Fisher struck again in the bottom of the third after James Murphy drove in his first-career run with a single off the pitcher that plated Noah Campanelli who had singled earlier in the frame.
Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Fisher would tack on three runs on just one hit and an error to open up a 7-1 advantage. Clarkson would get two back in the top of the fifth and pulled to within one run, 7-6, one inning later courtesy of two more runs on two hits.
Holding a one-run edge in the bottom of the sixth, Graham stepped in with a runner at third and slapped a signature bloop single that scored a run and gave Fisher some breathing room, 8-6.
Ahead by two runs in the late innings, Fisher's pitching staff settled in and allowed just one base runner over the final three innings to secure the win.
Alec Teska started on the hill and allowed one run over one inning of work with a pair of strikeouts. Anthony Brophy (1-0) was credited with the win after tossing four innings where he yielded three runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with four strikeouts. Michael Poirier threw three innings and gave up a pair of runs while notching four Ks in all. Marty Williams earned a save on the mound after striking out the side in the ninth.
FISHER 12, CLARKSON 0
The Cardinals carried over their hot hitting in the night cap and scored four runs in the top of the first with the big blow coming from Murphy in the form of a two-run double.
After a scoreless second inning, Fisher showcased its power in the top of the third with five runs on six hits to open up a nine-run lead. Zebrowski got the inning going with a one-out double that drop behind the right fielder. He didn't remain at second base for long as Jack Kelleher stepped in and crushed a two-run home run to right-center that made it 6-0.
From there, Joe Ruggiero worked a walk and advanced to third when Graham slapped a single down the right field line. With two on and two away, sophomore Brian Norsen deposited a fastball over the left field wall for a three-run dinger to make it 9-0.
Fisher struck again in the top of the fourth with three more runs including an RBI-single by Ruggiero and a two-run double by Graham to push the lead to 12 runs.
RJ Kuruts started for Fisher and dazzled over six innings as the Forest City, Pa. native notched a career-high 13 strikeouts and held the Golden Knights hitless. In all, Kuruts allowed just one walk and moved to 1-0 with the decision. Connor McHugh threw a scoreless seventh inning before being lifted for Rylan Baker who struck out two in a scoreless eighth. Right hander Hunter Walsh pitched the ninth to finish off the no-no. In all, Fisher fanned 17 in the win.
Fisher and Clarkson are scheduled to battle it out again at 1 p.m. on Friday in another non-conference nine-inning tilt at Falcon Park.