BOX SCORE

PHOTO GALLERY

An RBI double by Nolan Russell brought home Andrew Kozusko with what would prove to be the game-winning run, as Saint Vincent recorded an 8-7 win over St. John Fisher in 13 innings in Winter Haven, FL.

Kozusko had singled to get on base, then scored on Russell's game-winner.

Earlier, in the top of the 9th, Saint Vincent overcame a 7-5 deficit, scoring one run on a sacrifice fly by John Malone, then tying the game on an RBI single by AJ Kavinsky.

Alex Kozusko earned the win in relief of Joey Fearer.  Kozusko worked the last four scoreless innings, while Fearer had worked a stellar 9 innings, yielding just three earned runs. 

The Bearcats got off to a fast start, taking a 3-0 lead after a half inning, with Jordan Britcher supplying the big hit, a 2-run double. 

However, Fisher came back with 5 runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead.

The lead wouldn't last long, as Russell led off the SVC third inning by getting hit by a pitch, then moved to second on a single by Britcher.  After a double steal put both runners into scoring position, Kavinsky singled home Russell.  Tanner Master, who made a pair of great catches in right field during the day, then drove home Britcher with a single to tie the game, 5-5.

However, the opponents added a run in their half of the third, and another in the fifth, making the score 7-5.

SVC threatened in the 8th, with runners at second and third with one out, but failed to score.  Meanwhile, Fearer saved some of his best work for the latter innings, holding SJF hitless in the 6th, 7th and 8th innings.

In the top of the 9th, Britcher singled with one out, then moved to second on a single by Nick Beamenderfer.  A wild pitch moved both runners ahead 90 feet, and pinch-hitter John Malone came through with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Aaron Burger, who was pinch-running for Britcher.  Beamenderfer moved to third on the play.  With the Bearcats down to their last out, Kavinsky drilled a single to left center, scoring the tying run.

Fearer then gave up a leadoff walk, but got the next batter to pop up a bunt right back to him for the first out.  After a strikeout produced the second out, Fearer then threw to first in an attempt to pick off the runner, who broke for second.  First baseman Grant Krally threw a strike to second base, throwing out the runner and sending the game to extra innings.

Alex Kozusko then came on and worked four solid innings, managing to work out of jams in both the 10th and 11th, when Fisher got two runners on base. 

In the top of the 13th, Kozusko singled to right center with two out, setting up Russell's double.

SJF got a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, then moved the potential tying runner to second on a sacrifice bunt.  After a flyout for the second out, the next batter reached on an infield single, moving the tying run to third, but Kozusko got the last batter to fly out to Gary Gerhardt in center field to end the game.

Britcher led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a walk and 2 RBI, while Kavinsky was 4-for-7 with 2 RBI.  Russell was 2-5 and was hit by two pitches. 

Saint Vincent (1-2) will face Penn State-Abington at 2PM on Wednesday.  The game will be broadcast live on the Saint Vincent Sports Network.