Baseball wins thier Sixth Straight title with a total team effort

Lynn, MA - The Fisher College Baseball team captured its sixth straight Sunrise Conference Tournament title this afternoon as the beat Vermont Technical College, 12-2.

Fisher wasted no time as they scored three times in the first. Sophomore Gary Lunetta (North Andover, MA) singled home freshman Dave Ferriera (Saugus, MA) to give the Falcons the early 1-0 lead. That lead was extended to 3-0 when the next batter, junior Jose Rodriguez (Clermont, FL) blasted a two run home run to deep center field. It was Rodriguez' sixth round tripper this season.

An inning later, Ferriera launched a 3-1 offering from VTC starting pitcher freshman Reed Brown (Waitsfield, VT) over the right field fence for a two run homer. Ferriera's fourth home run of the year brought home junior Mike Oliveira (Tewksbury, MA). Oliveria reached base when he singled home senior Juan Eusebio (Union City, NJ).

The Falcons continued to score as they push one run across in the fourth, three in the sixth and two more in the eighth. The two runs in the eighth came when freshman Denon Rushing (Palmdale, CA) laced a two RBI single to left. That scored both junior Reynaldo Nunez (Santiago, Domincan Republic) and freshman Sebastiano Petruzzelli (Saugus, MA). Petruzelli re-entered the game after senior Patrick Shanahan (Haverhill, MA) pinched hit for him. Shanahan got his first collegiate hit which was a double down the left field line.

That would be all that senior Sammy Luciano (Union City, NJ) would need as he pitched seven strong innings, limiting VTC to just two runs on seven hits. Luciano stuck out five in his last collegiate outing at home. Sophomore Austin Brodie (Haverhill, MA) tossed a hit-less eighth inning in relief of Luciano.

Lunetta, Nunez and Oliveira all collected two hits on the afternoon while Ferriera, Rodriguez and Rushing all had two RBI games. Nunez also knocked in two runs.

For the Green Knights, senior Jeff Savage (Vernon, VT) went 2-for-3 with an RBI in his last collegiate game. Also having a two hit game for VTC were Brown and sophomore Garrick Cronin (Norfolk,MA).

Fisher will now move on to play Ohio Dominican University next weekend in the NAIA unaffiliated play-in Series. The winner will advance to a five team regional with a chance to go to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Next up for Fisher, they will travel across the Charles River and battle against Massachusetts Institute of Technology tomorrow afternoon. Game time is set for 4 pm on the MIT campus.

Michael pitches Fisher into Championship Sunday

Michael (above) came up huge in the 7-2 win over UMPI

Lynn, MA – Junior Kevin Michael (Ipswich, MA) came in and tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief as the Fisher College Falcons advance to their seventh straight Championship Game.

Senior Zack Thompson (Salem, MA) was the starting pitcher and threw 1.1 innings before he was subsequently ejected from the game. Michael held the Owls to just three hits while striking out two and issuing one free pass. A trio of Fisher relievers followed Michael, including Sunrise Conference All Conference Reliever, senior Rob Mondello (Haverhill, MA).

Junior Reynaldo Nunez (Santiago, Dominican Republic) led the Falcon offense as he was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two triples. Senior Edwin Pena (Union City, NJ) chipped in with two hits as well as junior Mike Oliveira (Tewksbury, MA). Pena finished 2-for-4 with a RBI while Oliveira was 2-for-3 with a RBI.

For the Owls, sophomore Ryan Hill (Houlton, ME) went 2-for-3 while senior Tyler Delaney (Truro, ME) collected the only UMPI RBI with his 1-for-3 performance.

Starting pitcher, freshman Stephen Thorne (Dalhousie, NB) got the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits. Thorne did strike out four before he gave way to juniors Clint Carter (Washburn, ME) and Brian Andrews (Ft. Fairfield, ME).

Fisher will move on to play in the Sunrise Conference Championship Game tomorrow afternoon at 1 pm. The University of Maine at Presque Isle will now have to play Vermont Technical College in an elimination game. The winner advances to the Championship Game.

Fisher College has won five straight Sunrise Conference Tournament titles and will be looking for number six. Both Vermont Technical College and UMPI are searching for their first crown.