UTICA, NY - The Utica University baseball team fell to St. John Fisher University 15-5 on Friday afternoon in the team's home opener.
 
Josh Duval (Utica, NY/Proctor) led the way on offense with three hits and two RBIs including a home run to left field. Andrew Salbinski (Essex, CT/Valley Regional) tallied two hits including a triple while driving in a pair. Jason Story (Hilton, NY/Hilton) had a pair of hits with Dom Fasolo (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro), Jack Scanlon (Rochester, NY/Aquinas Institute), Jacob Scalise (Utica, NY/Whitesboro), and Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) all recording one.
 
Austin Rhodes (Wappingers Falls, NY/Kennedy Catholic) got the start on the bump going four innings allowing two runs, both earned, on two hits, with one strikeout and was credited with the loss. Connor Ford (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) relieved him pitching two thirds of an inning allowing four earned runs on three hits with two walks issued. Justin Notargiacomo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) went one inning allowing three earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one. Frederick Callo Jr. (Milton, NY/Marlboro) closed the game out pitching the final 3.1 innings allowing six runs, all earned on six hits with three walks while punching out four.
 
It was a pitcher's duel to begin the contest with the teams combining for just one hit through the first two innings. Fisher smacked a pair of hits in the 3rd inning and a double to left field put the team up 1-0. 
 
The Pioneers responded with three hits in the bottom of the inning, Warren reached on an infield single and then reached third on a throwing error. He scored one batter later as Duval singled him in to knot the score at 1-1.
 
The Cardinals tacked on another run in the 4th and used a strong 5th inning to plate four more runs and take a 6-1 advantage. Fisher added three more runs in the 6th to hold a 9-1 lead.
 
Utica cut the deficit to 9-2 as Fasolo hit a towering home run to right field in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Pioneers kept chipping away as Duval homered to left field in the 7th inning to make it a 9-3 game.
 
Fisher hit a grand slam in the 8th to increase the lead to 13-3 but Utica had a nice bottom of the inning with multiple hits including a clutch Salbinski double to trim the lead to 13-5.
 
The Cardinals tacked on a pair in the 9th and held on for the 15-5 E8 victory.
 
Utica (5-12, 0-3 Empire 8) will host St. John Fisher University on Saturday, March 30 in a doubleheader with game one set for noon and game two scheduled for 3 p.m.