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Auburn, N.Y. – The third-seeded St. John Fisher Cardinals rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth and received a game-winning single from freshman outfielder John Quatironi (Williamsville East/Williamsville) in the bottom of the 11th to post a 6-5 win over the sixth-seeded Skidmore Thoroughbreds in game two of the NCAA New York Regional. St. John Fisher, making the program's first NCAA playoff appearance, advances to face the Ithaca/Westfield State winner Thursday at 1 p.m.; the Thoroughbreds will face the Ithaca/Westfield State loser in an elimination game Thursday at 10 a.m.
Quatironi's one-out single to right scored senior shortstop Mike Palermo (Spencerport/Spencerport), who had doubled. Palermo's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth sparked St. John Fisher's rally. The Cardinals trailed 5-2 and had been held to eight hits heading into the inning but the first four Cardinals reached base to start the inning. Palermo's hit scored
Quatironi's one-out single to right scored senior shortstop Mike Palermo (Spencerport/Spencerport), who had doubled. Palermo's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth sparked St. John Fisher's rally. The Cardinals trailed 5-2 and had been held to eight hits heading into the inning but the first four Cardinals reached base to start the inning. Palermo's hit scored
Freshman outfielder Jared Tiffin (Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/Sherrill), who entered the game as a pinch-runner after senior catcher Ricky Palmiero (Bishop Kearney/Rochester) led off with a walk and freshman Kevin Wing (Webster Schroeder/Webster), who reached on a pinch-hit single. Following a single by senior centerfielder Matt Bennage (McQuaid Jesuit/Rochester), Palermo singled to center to cut the Skidmore lead to one. After Skidmore got an out on a strikeout (following two unsuccessful attempts at a sacrifice bunt), senior third baseman Jeff Fetzner (Greece Athena/Rochester) singled to tie the game.
St. John Fisher's rally kept the Cardinals unbeaten in extra-inning games and snapped Skidmore's seven-game losing streak.
The Thoroughbreds had erased a 2-0 Cardinal lead with a run in the fifth and four in the seventh. Freshman outfielder Spencer Marcus (Scarsdale/Scarsdale) scored Skidmore's first run on a St. John Fisher error. An RBI groundout by junior shortstop Adam Brown (Morrisonville/Beekmantown) tied the game in the seventh and the Thoroughbreds took a 5-2 lead on a two-run single by senior outfielder Mike Salamone (Newton South [Mass.]/Albany) and a run-scoring double by junior Greg Carlow (Robert E. Fitch/Mystic, Conn.). Skidmore had a chance top add to its lead, but Carlow was thrown out at home trying to score when a ground ball was bobbled by Palermo.
St. John Fisher's rally kept the Cardinals unbeaten in extra-inning games and snapped Skidmore's seven-game losing streak.
The Thoroughbreds had erased a 2-0 Cardinal lead with a run in the fifth and four in the seventh. Freshman outfielder Spencer Marcus (Scarsdale/Scarsdale) scored Skidmore's first run on a St. John Fisher error. An RBI groundout by junior shortstop Adam Brown (Morrisonville/Beekmantown) tied the game in the seventh and the Thoroughbreds took a 5-2 lead on a two-run single by senior outfielder Mike Salamone (Newton South [Mass.]/Albany) and a run-scoring double by junior Greg Carlow (Robert E. Fitch/Mystic, Conn.). Skidmore had a chance top add to its lead, but Carlow was thrown out at home trying to score when a ground ball was bobbled by Palermo.
Junior Justin Lutes (Charles O. Dickerson/Trumansburg) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Junior starter Ryan Hanson (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton) allowed nine hits in nine innings of work, fanning five and walking three.
Junior Mike Matias (Robert E. Fitch/Groton, Conn.) took the loss in relief of sophomore Ed Reilly (Tenafly/Tenafly, N.J.), who allowed four runs on nine hits in his eight innings.
Fetzner led St. John Fisher with three hits. Bennage, Palermo and freshman outfielder Marc Montesano (New Hartford/New Hartford) had two hits apiece. Carlow's three hits paced the Thoroughbreds.
Box score
The rest of Wednesday's revised schedule:
Game 3: #2 Ithaca vs. #7 Westfield State, approximately 8:10 p.m.
Game 4: #1 Cortland vs. Manhattanville, approximately 11:10 p.m.