| 5/4/2008 4:52:08 PM

Click For Box Score (Game #1)
Click For Box Score (Game #2)

ROCHESTER, NY -- The RIT baseball team has been on a tear as of late. Coming into today the Tigers had won 14-of-15 and five straight. RIT remained hot, sweeping a pair of games over St. John Fisher, 15-10 and 4-3. The Tigers are 22-12 on the season and take sole possession of second place in the Empire 8 standings with an 11-5 conference record.

RIT came out firing in the bottom of the first inning, scoring six runs on four hits and a pair of home runs. Jeremy Tosh (Woodbine, MD/Glenelg) (Woodbine, MD/Glenelg) and Ed Hughes (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt) each hit three-run home runs for  the Tigers off Fisher starter Greg McKeown to lead 6-0 after one inning.

The Cardinals responded in the top of the second, plating four runs. The big blow came on a grand slam by Jon Gibbs off RIT starter Jeff Bibbens (Weedsport, NY/Weedsport) (Weedsport, NY).

The Cardinals added another run in the fourth and three in the top of the fifth to take an 8-7 lead. Bob Toland smacked a two-run home run off of Bibbens to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game.

RIT came right back in the bottom of the fifth with five big runs. Josh Rodems (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) (Orchard Park, NY) led off the inning with a single. Justin Smith (Livonia, NY/LIvonia) (Livonia, NY), who pinch-ran for Rodems, advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ryan Campbell (Brockport, NY/Brockport) (Brockport, NY) singled, moving Smith to third. Matt George (Walton, NY/Walton)'s (Walton, NY)  bunt towards first base was misplayed by Dave Roth, allowing Smith to score. Geoff Dornes (Landisville, PA/Hempfiled) (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) ripped a single, scoring Campbell giving RIT a 9-8 lead.

The Tigers would add two more runs on sacrifice flies by Ryan Tryt (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) and Anthony Culotta (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) and would add another run to take a 13-8 lead.

RIT would add three more runs in the bottom of the sixth and were able to close out the game despite two runs by Fisher in the seventh.

Dornes was the star at the plate for the Tigers, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored. Matt George (Walton, NY/Walton) went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and Jeremy Tosh (Woodbine, MD/Glenelg) went 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Mike Marsillo (Scottsdale, AZ/Desert Mountain) (Scottsdale, AZ/Desert Mountain) picked up the win in relief for RIT. He pitched the final 2 2/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits. He did not allow a walk and had a strike out.

Game two saw stronger pitching by both squads as RIT's Chris Miller (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) and Ryan Hanson gave their clubs good starts.

The Tigers led early on, scoring a run in the first and two in the third, leading 3-0. Dornes and Tosh each had RBI's in the third inning for RIT.

Miller was cruising along until the sixth inning when he got himself into a little bit of a jam. He was able to wriggle out of trouble allowing just two runs when the Cardinals had the bases loaded with one out.

Kevin Wing had a bases loaded single, driving in the game-tying runs. But, Miller came right back and struck out Jason Nevada on a nasty pitch, keeping the game tied.

After a scoreless seventh freshman Dave Kernan (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) (Liverpool, NY/Cicero-N. Syracuse) led off the bottom of the eighth with a triple. He ripped a Ryan Hanson pitch over the center fielders head and legged out a triple.

Two batters later Matt George (Walton, NY/Walton) placed a ball into right field, scoring Kyle Desrosiers (North Attleboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers) (N. Attleboro, MA/Xaverian Brothers),  who pinch-ran for Kernan, with the winning run.

Miller, who's battled some injuries all season long, turned in an outstanding performance.  He went six innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.

Mike Marsillo (Scottsdale, AZ/Desert Mountain) pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing no runs on one hit and getting the win for the Tigers who have now won seven straight and 16-of-17.

The Tigers will face SUNY Oswego on Tuesday afternoon at 2 pm in their final home appearance of the season.