The St. John Fisher College softball team opened NCAA play today with an 8-5 win over the University of Rochester.   The Cardinals (34-12) are playing in the Willimantic Regional, hosted by top-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University.  This is the fifth time the Cardinals have reached the NCAA Championship, and just the second time the Cardinals have earned an at-large bid to the dance. 

After a clean first inning by both teams, Fisher jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second and chased the Yellowjackets' starting pitcher after just an inning and a third pitched.  The Cardinals mustered three extra-base hits, starting with a triple from Sarah Fordyce to open the inning.  Krista Robarge then hit a two-bagger to bring in Fordyce, and Kayla Goodberlet hit a triple of her own on a long ball over the right fielder's head. 

Goodberlet, whose hit made the score 2-0, later scored after Megan Zoerb hit into a fielder's choice.  Rochester tried to get Goodberlet out at the plate, but the junior was able to slide into home base safely.

The Yellowjackets threatened in that same inning, putting together consecutive singles and earning a base on balls to load the bases with two outs.  But Fisher pitcher Sarah Stefanon was able to work her way out of the inning as she forced Rochester's Meg Hennessy to ground right back to her for the final out.

In the fourth inning, Fisher chased pitcher Sarah Wayson from the mound after Fordyce worked an excellent at-bat with the bases loaded.  During the lengthy plate appearance, two wild pitches from Weyson allowed Kelly Jones and Jennifer Vanek to cross home plate, making the score 5-0. 

After Fordyce worked a walk on that at bat, Leanne Merchant hit a single to left field to score Carissa Carlson from third and push Fisher to a 6-0 lead.

Rochester cut the Fisher lead to four runs in the fourth inning, after two of Stefanon's 10 hits came back-to-back pushing two Yellowjacket runs in.  With Rochester's first run coming after a fielding error and the second with two outs, both runs were unearned for Stefanon, who finished with five strikeouts.

After Fordyce earned an RBI in the sixth, making the score 7-2, Rochester cut the Fisher lead to 7-4 by the bottom of that same inning.  The Yellowjackets third run came from catcher Alyssa Murillo on a solo home run, while the next run was scored with a two out double.

Goodberlet opened the seventh with a walk, and the Cardinals final run came from pinch runner Kate Disbrow to push the Fisher advantage to 8-4.

Stefanon looked to close the game in the bottom of that inning, but Rochester's second home run of the day brought Danielle Leone to the mound with no outs.  The Connecticut native was able to pick up the hometown save, ending the game with two fly outs and a strikeout looking.

Vanek finished with a game-high three hits and two runs scored, while five Cardinals each earned one RBI. 

The Cardinals will now face Tufts University at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in the double elimination tournament.  The Jumbos defeated Salem State in their first round game by a 10-5 score Thursday night.