The St. John Fisher College softball team split an afternoon doubleheader at home against nationally-ranked University of Rochester on Thursday. In the opening game, Fisher fell to Rochester 4-1 while in the second game, the Cardinals defeated the Yellowjackets 3-2. Fisher is now 12-4 overall on the year.

In the first game, still scoreless through the first two innings, Rochester opened the scoring in the top of the third. The first two hitters of the inning singled and doubled, which allowed for a sacrifice fly to score the first run. After getting the next batter for the second out, the Yellow Jackets hit another double which made the score 2-0. Rochester would add its final two runs of the game in the top of the fourth off a two-run homerun.

Fisher had trouble at the plate, tallying just one run on two hits. Jamie Harmon went 1-for-3 with an RBI for driving in Fisher's only run, junior Samantha Vara, in the bottom of the sixth. In the designated hitter role, Meghan Graves also went 1-for-3 for the Cardinals other hit. 

On the mound, senior Amanda Shevchuk threw five innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning six batters. Freshman Chrissy Capalbo relieved Shevchuk in the sixth inning and threw two innings of perfection, facing six batters and surrendering no hits or walks.

In the second game, Fisher would find its bats, smashing 11 hits that would result in three runs. The Cardinals got on the board early with  freshman Megan Zoerb driving in classmate Jenn Vanek in the bottom of the first inning. Fisher would add another run in the third when Megan Rogers doubled with two outs and Graves drove her in with a single in the next at-bat. 

Graves was 2-for-4 from the plate with two RBI. The junior got her second RBI when she drove in shortstop Kelly Jones in the fourth, which would prove to be the difference in the game. Rochester would homer in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Cardinals were able to close the door on the Yellow Jackets.

Zoerb, Vanek, and junior Laura Rojek each went 2-for-3 in the game, while Rogers, Kelly Hausler, and Carissa Carlson all added a hit.

Sophomore Melissa Blakeney pitched 6.2 inningsand gave up just five hits and two runs while striking out two batters. Shevchuk relieved Blakeney with one out remaining in the seventh, and through just one pitch before getting a popout to end the game.

Fisher will return to action on Sunday at home against Elmira College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.