UTICA, N.Y. (May 8, 2015) – Junior Nick Sieber delivered an RBI single in the top of the tenth inning to give the Stevens Institute of Technology baseball team a 9-8 victory over St. John Fisher College in the Empire 8 Conference tournament Friday.
The Ducks (29-13) wasted no time, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Junior Jonathan Toro led off the game with a triple and scored on a passed ball. After sophomore Michael Mule' worked a walk, fellow sophomore Zeph Walters doubled into the left center gap and Mule' came around to score. Senior Brian Hennelly capped off the inning with a run scoring single up the middle.
The Cardinals got a run back in their half of the first, as freshman Scott Eisenmenger's two-out triple knocked in junior Shane Barley. Fisher tied the game in the bottom of the third as Eisenmenger hit a single to center which scored two runs.
Stevens took the lead back for good in the fourth putting up another three spot. Senior Marc Calleo led off with an infield single to short and after moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, came home as Toro reached on an error. Mule' then singled to advance him to third, and Walters was walked to load the bases for junior Jayson Yano. Yano then helped his own cause by roping a double to left field scoring Toro and Mule'.
After the Cardinals (24-18) cut the lead down to three with an RBI single by Mike Roman, the Ducks tacked on runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Sophomore Harrison Kaye knocked home senior Gregg Nickels in the seventh while Yano drove in another run with a fielder's choice.
Fisher tied the game in the bottom of ninth. Eisenmenger greeted the new pitcher with a solo homer to left field. After a single and a walk, sophomore Jack Trotman hit an RBI single, and two batters later Roman singled to center score two runners and forced extra innings.
Stevens regained the lead in the tenth, as Walters was walked to lead off the frame. He quickly stole second and moved to third as the throw eluded the fielder. Sieber flared a hit into the outfield to score Walters and give the Ducks a 9-8 lead.
In the bottom half, Eisenmenger led off with a single and a pinch runner moved to second on a balk. But junior Ryan Patterson settled down and got the next three hitters out for save number 11 and his second in two days.
Walters and Calleo finished 3-for-4 while Nickels each recorded two hits. Yano was a duel threat, going 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs while also throwing eight innings, allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out seven.
Eisenmenger went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and finished a double short of the cycle while Roman had two hits and two RBIs.
The Ducks will take on Ithaca in the Empire 8 Championship tomorrow at 10 a.m.