Fifth-seeded St. John Fisher College scored the game's only run in the top of the seventh inning to give the Cardinals a 1-0 win over No. 4 Western Connecticut State University on Thursday in the opening round of the Ithaca Regional of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

With the win, Fisher improves to 29-12-1 on the year and will now face No. 1 Messiah (36-5) at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.  The Ithaca Regional is an eight-team double-elimination format.

Fisher's Sarah Stefanon raised her record to 14-4 on the year.  The sophomore pitcher allowed just two runners to reach base (both were singles) and fanned seven batters to earn the win.   

Fisher only finished with four hits, but was able to manufacture a run and break a scoreless tie in its final at-bat.

Senior Jamie Harmon, who was named as the Empire 8 Conference Championship's Most Outstanding Player last week, singled to right-center to start the seventh and advanced to second after a four-pitch walk to Carissa Carlson.

Sarah Fordyce attempted a sacrifice bunt and reach first after the shortstop, who was covering third base, dropped the ball, to load the bases.

After falling into a 0-2 count, sophomore Leanne Merchant battled back, seeing six more pitches, and hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Harmon for the game's lone run.

In the seventh, Stefanon struck out two batters, while Jennifer Vanek, who was named as the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year yesterday, made a leaping catch at the warning track in centerfield.

Kayla Goodberlet, Vanek, Harmon and Merchant each finished with one hit for the Cardinals.

Fisher is playing in its fourth NCAA Championship since 2002.   The Cardinals earned an automatic bid to NCAAs by winning the Empire 8 Conference Championship last weekend, which was also played at Ithaca College.