The St. John Fisher College softball team swept host Utica College on Sunday, winning 2-0 and 7-2. The Cardinals improve to 23-9 overall and 7-3 in the Empire 8 Conference.
 
Fisher 2, Utica 0
 
Neither team scored until Meghan Burns broke it open with a solo shot in the top of the sixth inning. It was the senior captain's third homer of the year and her 13th in her career.
 
Lauren Owens helped Fisher add an insurance run in the following inning. Jennifer Knaak reached first base on a fielder's choice then advanced to second on a Burns single. Pinchrunner Christina Sakran scored when Owens doubled down the left field line.
 
Knaak, Burns and Owens finished with two hits apiece.
 
Lindsey Thayer scattered seven hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
 
Fisher 7, Utica 2
 
With the help of Utica and a series of errors, Fisher was quick to jump out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
 
Fisher added to its lead in the fourth when Kristina Balsano hit her second career home run, bringing in two runs for the Cardinals.
 
Trailing 3-0, Utica had its chance in the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers had bases loaded with just one out, but Fisher caught two flyballs to end the threat.
 
Fisher added four runs in the top of the seventh to clinch the victory. Owens brought in three runs – Sakran, Knaak and Katie Mazierski -- on a double down the left field line.

Thayer threw another complete game from the circle, allowing five hits, two runs (both earned) and three walks with four strikeouts.

The Cardinals are set to host Rochester Institute of Technology for a non-conference doubleheader at 3 p.m. Monday.