TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore James Murphy reached base five times, including a double and a home run to lead the St. John Fisher College baseball team to a 15-9 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) at Robison Field at Karl Steffen Ballpark on Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Cardinals open the season at 1-0, while the Engineers, who were hosting their earliest home contest in program history, begin the season at 0-1.

The visitors scored in every inning en route to a six-run victory. Junior Ben Lavery (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) homered on the first pitch of the game off or RPI graduate student Ryan Yerby (Montara, CA / Half Moon Bay).

After an RBI-groundout from graduate student Patrick Kravitz (Spring Brook, PA / North Pocono) gave Fisher a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, the Engineers answered in the bottom half on a two-run double off the bat of junior third baseman Martin Marinchev (Belmont, MA / Belmont), knotting the score at 2-2.

A solo home run by Murphy (Niskayuna, NY / Niskayuna) over the right center field fence gave the Cardinals the lead back at 3-2 in the third, but RPI came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the frame on a solo shot to left by senior Cole Paquin (Clifton Park, NY / Shenendehowa) – his second collegiate long ball.

Fisher took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth, but graduate student Jake Defayette (Schenectady, NY / Schalmont) once again answered for the hosts, launching a two-run homer to right for a 5-4 RPI advantage.

The Cardinals then put together a four-run top of the fifth, building a lead they did not relinquish. Graduate student Michael Beimel (Saint Mary's, PA / Saint Mary's) delievered the big blow in the rally, driving a bases-clearing double off the right field fence. Beimel then scored on a Jack Kelleher (Queensbury, NY / Lake George) double down the line for an 8-5 advantage.

Fisher added three insurance runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and three more in the eighth. The Engineers railed for a single run in the seventh and two in the eighth, before the game was called due to lack of sunlight.

Sophomore Russell Dunlap (North Attleborough, MA / North Attleborough) earned the win on the hill, allowing two unearned runs one hit over 1.0 inning of work. He struck out two and did not walk a batter. Sophomore Alex Vallee (Greenwich, NY / Schuylerville) was saddled with the loss, surrendering four runs on two hits over 0.2 innings.

The Engineers are back on the diamond on Saturday, March 5, when they host Middlebury College (11am). St. John Fisher travels to William Patterson for four games on March 5 and 6.