The St. John Fisher College softball team continued its success with two more wins against the College at Brockport in a doubleheader on Monday. Fisher, currently ranked No. 21 in the latest NFCA poll, moves to 16-4 on the season, while Brockport falls to 12-6.
Game One: Fisher 8, Brockport 2
Tied 1-1, the Cardinals used their bats in the fifth and sixth innings to take control of the contest. In the fifth, Leanne Merchant earned her first RBI of the day on a double to right center that scored Jennifer Martin. Later in the inning, Carissa Carlson hit a two-run homer to left field that gave Fisher a 4-1 lead.
Brockport answered with a single run in the top of the sixth, but the Cardinals then produced four more runs in the bottom of the inning to reach the 8-2 final score. With no outs and bases loaded, Kayla Goodberlet hit a long sacrifice fly to right field to score pinch runner Meghan Burns from third. In the next at bat, Merchant hit a three-run bomb to left field for the Cardinals final runs.
Merchant finished the contest with a game-high four RBI, while going 2-for-4 at the plate. Jennifer Vanek hit on two of her three appearances, scoring a run and batting one in. Martin finished the game with two runs scored, while designated player Kaylee Tallman went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Danielle Leone earned her ninth win of the season with a four strikeout complete game.
Game Two: Fisher 9, Brockport 0
In the second game of the day, Sarah Stefanon pitched a six-inning, nine strikeout shutout for her seventh win of the year. With the performance, the pitcher has now gone 40.1 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, going nearly a month with the last coming on March 5th to No. 3 Coe College.
Merchant continued her powerful play in the game, hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the sixth for the mercy rule victory.
Leading 5-0 in the sixth, Brockport appeared to end the inning unscathed but after failing to report a substitution, the Cardinals were kept at bat. The fault allowed Goodberlet to single-in a run, bringing Merchant up to bat for her walk-off blast.
The Cardinals also had a strong showing in the third inning, matching the four runs that they put up in the sixth. A Merchant double to left field allowed Megan Zoerb to score from second base, then Carlson singled to move Merchant to third. Tallman brought the catcher in on a fly ball to centerfield before Kelly Jones walked on the next at bat.
Michelle Townsend earned two RBI on her second appearance of the day, clearing the bases for the 5-0 Fisher lead.
Merchant finished with another four RBI game, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Carlson finished a perfect 3-for-3 in her opportunities. Zoerb, Goodberlet and Merchant all finished with three runs scored.
Fisher will return to action at 3 p.m. on Friday when it opens Empire 8 Conference play against Nazareth College.
