Baseball splits the last two in Brownsville, TX

Game One: Texas-Brownsville 3, Fisher College 1

Rob Mondello took the tough luck loss in Game One

Brownsville, TX - Senior Rob Mondello (Haverhill, MA) used just 66 pitches through his six innings of work but Texas-Brownsville was able to scratch out three runs to defeat the Falcons in game one by a final of 3-1.

Texas-Brownsville got on the board quick as they scored twice in the opening frame and then added another run in the bottom of the fifth. Fisher would score their only run of the game in the top half of the sixth inning. Senior Edwin Pena (Union City, NJ) extended his hitting streak to five games when he laced a ball through the left side of the infield and into left. Sophomore Richie Welch (Everett, MA) was inserted as the courtesy runner and scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman Denon Rushing (Palmdale, CA).

"We had our opportunity to win the game," said Fisher College Head Coach Scott Dulin. "We had the runners on but we just couldn't get that one hit to break it open. Robbie (Mondello) threw a terrific ball game. It's unfortunate that we couldn't get him the win that he deserved."

Mondello pitched effectively in his start. He limited the potent Scorpion offense to just three runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out three in the complete game loss.


Game Two: Fisher College 6, Valley City State 5

Mark Dorso picked up his first win of the season in relief

Brownsville, TX - In what was the most exciting game of the young 2010 season, Fisher College came from behind and scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to steal a win from Valley City and sweep the four game set.

Junior Kevin Michael (Ipswich, MA) gave the Fisher pitching a much needed quality start as he pitched five innings giving up eight hits while allowing five runs, in which only two were earned. Reliever Mark Dorso (Waterbury, CT) came in with a runner on in the sixth. He allowed that run, which was Micheal's fifth, to score on a bleeder that fell in shallow left field.

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Rushing stepped up and drilled a 1-1 offering over the left field wall for his first collegiate home run and more importantly, a game tying home run. With two outs, Dulin sent a pinch hitter in freshman Sebastiano Petruzzelli (Saugus, MA) to the plate. He lifted a fly ball into shallow right field where the Viking second baseman dropped it and allowed the inning to continue. Welch then came on to run and scored on a bazaar play. Junior Jose Rodriguez (Clermont, FL) hit a pop up about 10 feet in front of home plate. After mass confusion between three VCSU players, the ball dropped and Welch scampered in for the go-ahead run.

Mondello then came on for the save and need just 12 pitches to dispose of the Vikings and earn his first save of the season.

Pena continued to stay red hot as he hit his first home run of the season, a game tying solo shot in the fifth, and extended his team leading hitting streak to six games.

With the win, Fisher College Baseball improves to 4-4 on their Texas trip. They will play a four game set in Victoria, TX against the University of Houston at Victoria. Game One will be starting at 7 pm (est) on Thursday, March 18, 2010.