The Oswego State baseball team defeated St. John Fisher 9-5 on Thursday afternoon in an ECAC Upstate Tournament game. The game was originally scheduled for a nine-inning contest, but was called after eight innings. The host Cardinals conceded the victory after Oswego State head coach Frank Paino was struck in the head by a line drive in the top of the ninth inning. Paino was injured, and could not complete the game.

Oswego State is now 15-11 on the season and will participate in the double-elimination portion of the tournament this weekend, which takes place Saturday and Sunday at Oneonta. Oswego State opens tournament play on Saturday against top-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology.

The Lakers scored seven runs in the top of the eighth inning to turn a 5-2 deficit into a 9-5 lead, which proved to be the eventual final score. Oswego State had seven hits in the inning and the rally started with a leadoff triple by Mike Levy, and RBI single by Brett Shaffer, and an RBI double by Dan Pecora. Another big blow in the rally was a three-run double by Levy later in the inning.

Oswego State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a pair of sac fly RBIs by Josh Stoetzel and Mike Levy. The Cardinals tied the score in the bottom of the first with two runs on three walks and a two-run single by Marc Montesano.

Fisher took a three-run lead in the bottom of the second on five hits, including RBI singles by John Quartironi and Jason Nevada, and a sacrifice fly by Dave Roth.

Laker starting pitcher P.J. Cowie lasted just two innings, and Andy Salvatore earned the win in relief with six shutout innings. He allowed four hits, walked four, and struck out four.

Seven Lakers had two hits each as part of a 15-hit attack. Levy was 2-for-4 and drove in four runs.

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