The St. John Fisher College baseball team used 25 hits to defeat the No. 1 ranked team in the country, host SUNY Cortland on Wednesday in non-conference action. The Cardinals, who improves to 23-17 overall, handed the Red Dragons just their fourth loss of the year.

It marks the first time since 2012 that Fisher has taken down the top-ranked team in the nation. In that season, the Cardinals beat defending champs Marietta College 5-2 in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Mideast Regional. Fisher also topped Cortland, the No. 2-ranked team at the time, in the same season.

Cortland took an early lead with a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the first inning.

Fisher took its first lead of the game in the top of the second inning, scoring four runs on six hits. Cody Wiktorski started up the offense with a single down the left field line. Malcolm Kelsey followed up with a single of his own through the right side, bringing Wiktorski to third base. Matthew Cahill singled to center field to record the RBI. Joe Simmons kept things going, laying down a bunt for a single and loading up the bases. That prompted the Red Dragons to make an early and first pitching change. Calvin Woolhiser then tallied his first of four hits on the day with a two-RBI single. Fisher wrapped up its scoring in that inning with a Mike Roman sacrifice fly, bringing in Simmons.

From there, the Red Dragons took off, taking a 7-4 lead through the fourth inning. Cortland was able to take advantage of three fielding errors to bring in three runs.

Fisher got back within one run by the end of the top of the sixth inning when Simmons laid down another bunt for a single to bring in Wiktorski, while Scott Eisenmenger grounded out to shortstop, but brought in Woolhiser.

Cortland scored its last run of the game on a sacrifice lineout to left field and took an 8-6 lead into the seventh.

Fisher exploded for another four runs on six hits to reclaim the lead at 10-8. Kelsey opened the inning with a solo home run to left field. The Cardinals then went on a hitting spree with two outs with Vic Kostantinov, Woolhiser, Roman, Shane Barley and Eisenmenger all recording singles.

The Cardinals, who faced nine Cortland pitchers, added two more runs in the eighth to secure the 12-8 win.

Woolhiser led Fisher's offense, going 4-for-5 with two runs, three RBI and one walk. Roman added three RBI on three hits with one run. Eisenmenger finished 2-for-6 with two RBI. Simmons, Cahill, Kelsey and Barley each added one RBI.

Josh Amann made just his fourth start of the year from the hill. Over five innings, the senior allowed eight hits, seven runs (three earned) and two walks.

Relief pitcher Kevin Berge held the Red Dragons scoreless through the final four innings, scattering just five hits, one run (earned) with three strikeouts. In the bottom of the ninth, he recorded a quick 1-2-3 where he accounted for two strikeouts and a flyout.

The Cardinals return to action at 10 a.m. Thursday when they begin the inaugural Empire 8 Championship at Utica College.