The St. John Fisher College softball team swept Elmira college at home in an Empire 8 conference Sunday doubleheader. In the first game of the afternoon, Fisher shutout the Soaring Eagles, taking its second conference victory 1-0. The final game of the afternoon featured the Cardinals hitting ability, defeating Elmira 8-5. The softball team is now 14-4 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.

In the opening game of the doubleheader, Fisher needed only one run to secure the victory. The run cam e in the bottom of the third with two outs when Fisher strung together three hits. Kelly Jones singled followed by classmate Megan Zoerb's double. Fellow freshman Megan Rogers singled in the next at-bat, driving in Jones for the Cardinals. On the mound, senior Amanda Shevchuk went the distance, allowing only 4 hits while striking out seven batters.

In the final game of the afternoon, Fisher would produce eight runs on ten hits on its way to a sweep of Elmira. Down 2-0 through the third inning, Fisher would start putting runs on the board in the fourth. Carissa Carlson smashed a double to left center, moving junior Meghan Graves to third. Graves would score during the next at-bat when the Elmira pitcher let a pitch get away. 

The scoring would continue in the fifth inning, with Samantha Vara reaching on a fielder's choice and Jones doubling, Zoerb came to the plate and single to drive in her teammates. With the two RBI, Fisher gained the lead and would hold it for the rest of the game.

Fisher added insurance in the sixth, when after two walks, senior Katelyn Stubbendeck hit a homerun to make the score 8-2. Following a hit-by-pitch and another walk, third baseman Kristi Bradley hit a single to drive in the Cardinals last two runs.

Pitchers Melissa Blakeney and Shevchuk once again teamed up in a dual effort to secure the victory. Blakeney improved to 8-1 on the year, giving up just four hits in four innings while surrendering no earned runs. Shevchuk pitched the last three innings, giving up three runs on six hits in securing her second save in as many opportunities.

Fisher will return to non-conference action for a doubleheader against host D'Youville on Tuesday at 3 p.m.