Baseball | 5/2/2012 7:51:00 PM

Box Score Click here for game stats

PITTSFORD, NY - The RIT baseball team (12-24) rallied from a 5-2 deficit and had a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, but could not hold on, as host St. John Fisher (28-8) came back with two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie it, then scored one in the bottom of the 11th inning to hand the Tigers a tough 8-7 defeat at Dugan Yard on Wednesday afternoon.

The Tigers trailed 5-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning, when with two outs, Tyler Ramotar (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) walked and stole second base, then was driven home on a single by Greg Schworm (Rochester, NY/Churchville Chili), making it a 5-3 game.

The following inning, RIT exploded for four runs to take the 7-5 lead, as C.J. Bolorin# double, advanced to third on a fielders choice bunt by Jaren Bell (Rochester, NY/Brighton), who also got on base. Kreag Bradley (Victor, NY/Victor) bunted Ramotar in, as the Fisher catcher thought it was a force play and never tagged Ramotar as he crossed home plate. Brian Brazee (Auburn, NY/Auburn) singled in Bell to tie the game at 5-5. After a Ronnie Canestro (East Amherst, NY/Nichols) walk, senior Jon Meyer (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) doubled to right field, driving in two runs to give RIT the lead.

After RIT closer Tyler Leichtenberger (Warren, PA/Warren Area) came in to the game in the bottom of the eighth to induce a ground out to end the inning, he came back out looking for his eighth save of the season in the ninth. Fisher responded by plating two quick runs to tie the game at 7-7, then loaded the bases with one out and a chance to win. Matthew Cahill hit a rocket that Bolorin made a diving stop on, then got up and threw the lead runner out at home. The next batter, Chris Roeder grounded out to Ramotar, nearly beating out the play, as the game went to extra innings.

RIT had a runner on second base on each of the 10th and 11th innings, but could not score. In the bottom of the inning, Cahill singled in Kenny Bostick with the bases loaded for the winning run.

Meyer led RIT's 11-hit attack by going 3-for-5, driving in two batters, and scoring a run. Brazee was 2-for-4 with a walk, while Ramotar walked twice and stole two bases.

On the mound, Brad Wright (Baldswinville, NY/C.W. Baker), Chris Dickinson (Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima), and Dan Schuster (Livonia, NY/Livonia) combined to throw five shutout innings of relief. Leichtenberger took the loss, allowing a pair of earned runs over the final 2 2/3 innings.

Five different Cardinals ripped two hits. Steve Karynski homered, while Nicholas Flemister drove in two runs, and Peter Krysztof and Geoff Osterman scored a pair of runs each. Thomas Dybas pitched four shutout innings of relief to earn the win.

RIT finishes the 2012 season with a pair of doubleheaders against Rochester on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6. Saturday's doubleheader will be home and start at 11:30 a.m., while Sunday's is away and begins at 12 p.m. On Saturday, RIT will honor its senior class. In addition, the fifth annual Imagine RIT festival will be going on during the two games.