Late Fisher rally comes up short, lose 6-3

Jose Rodriguez had the big hit for Fisher

Cary, North Carolina - The Fisher College Falcons rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth but came up short as Edward Waters College held on for a 6-3 win in game one of the NAIA East Coast Unaffiliated Series.

EWC (35-24) took a commanding 6-0 thanks to a couple of Fisher (24-25) defensive miscues and a solo home run from first baseman Kenneth Crosby.

The Falcon offense did not come to life until the eighth inning. With a runner at first and two away, freshman Davidson Peguero (Boston, MA) singled up the middle before senior Reynaldo Nunez (Santiago, Dominican Republic) worked a full count walk to load the bases. 2011 Sunrise Conference Player of the Year, Jose Rodriguez (Clermont, FL) laced the first pitch he saw into the right-center gap for a two out, three RBI triple to get the Falcons with in scoring postition. However after a walk to sophomore Sebastiano Petruzzelli (Saugus, MA), EWC starting pitcher Tony Pettit was able to get a fly out to left to end the inning and leave runners at the corners.

Fisher College starter Michael Hashem allowed six runs, four earned, over his 5.1 innings pitched before giving way to a trio of Falcon relievers.

Rodriguez finished the day going 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI while junior Gary Lunetta (North Andover, MA), sophomore Jose Paulino (Lawrence, MA) and the Peguero brothers - Davidson and Roger - each recorded base hits for Fisher.

With their backs against the wall, Fisher will turn to senior ace Kevin Michael (Ipswich, MA) tomorrow morning in game two of the NAIA East Coast Unaffiliated Series. From here on out, it will be win or go home.