Baseball's rally falls short in 10-5 loss to #9-ranked St. John Fisher (N.Y.)

By Caleb Scott

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Ohio Northern baseball team's late rally came up short as Northern fell 10-5 to No. 9-ranked St. John Fisher (N.Y.) Wednesday afternoon in Auburndale, Fla. at the RussMatt Invitational.

The Polar Bears fall to 4-2 overall, while the Cardinals move to 4-2.

Northern fell behind early as St. John Fisher opened the game with three runs in the top of the first. 

The Cardinals added two runs in the top of the fifth to push the lead to 5-0.

Northern would begin its rally in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored three runs to close the gap to 5-3.

After sophomore Luke Klinehoffer (Zanesville/John Glenn) doubled down the left field line and junoor Brandon Kasberg (Mentor) got on base after being hit by a pitch, sophomore Caleb Thomas (Strongsville) doubled and drove Klinehoffer home.

On the ensuing at bat, junior Jordan Bostater (Bryan) would hit a 2-RBI single through the center gap to plate Kasberg and Thomas.

The Cardinals were able to tack on a run in the top of the seventh to stretch the lead to 6-3, before a two run seventh inning for the Polar Bears brought them within 6-5.

Freshman Phil Buckingham (Wayne/Elmwood) would get on base before junior Dan Barna (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) sent a 2-RBI home run over the left field fence to close the gap to 6-5 for ONU.

Northern would threaten with runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth but could not capitalize.

A 4-run ninth inning for SJF would seal the victory for the Cardinals.

The Polar Bears return to action Friday as they take of Rhode Island College at 9 am and Gwynedd Mercy (Pa.) at 12:30 pm.