AUBURNDALE, Fla. -- Sophomore catcher
Isaac Fugere (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) belted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left-center field for a grand slam with two out in the top of the ninth and the UW-Superior held on for a 4-3 victory over Stockton at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on Friday.
Fugere's third career homer made a winner of
Matt Tappe (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony Village), who turned in 8 1/3 innings of six-hit baseball in his first collegiate start to improve to 2-1 on the season. Tappe matched Stockton starter Mike Schiattarella, who threw a seven-inning perfect game in his previous start in the event against Western New England,pitch-for-pitch. The sophomore right-hander allowed just six baserunners through eight innings, lasting one out into the ninth and threw 104 pitches before giving way to freshman
Jack Rheineck (St. Louis Park, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's School). With the tying run on first base, Rheineck induced a flyout from Luke Fabrizzi that scored the Ospreys' third run and then, after Thomas Elgrim stole second, fanned Ryan Mihlebach to earn his first collegiate save.
Tappe surrendered three runs (all earned) and three walks with three strikeouts.
Schiattarella followed his perfect game with another 6 2/3 of no-hit ball prior to
Christian Garcia's (Blue Springs, Mo./Blue Springs) first-pitch double over the head of Tucker Elder in center field. Phil Santa Maria worked his way into trouble in the ninth, loading the bases when Johnny Rhodes singled to center,
Mike Rodriguez (Chicago, Ill./Gordon Tech) was hit by a pitch and
Ben Rhodes (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) -- attempting to move the runners with a sacrifice bunt -- reached on a throwing error.
Santa Maria was relieved by Andrew Luongo, who retired
Bryce Flanagan (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd Senior) on a foul pop and whiffed Garcia before the home run.
The Yellowjackets (2-8) managed just three hits on the day, but played errorless in field for the fourth time in 10 games this season. UWS also turned its eighth double play on the year, a 6-4-3 twin killing to end the second inning.
Jordan Nitti and Elgim each had two of the six hits for Stockton, which fell to 7-6-1 on the season with the loss.
Superior is back in action with a doubleheader against Union Saturday in Davenport, Fla. First pitch is slated for 12:15 p.m. CT at Northeast Regional Park.
