The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball program gave up two hits, no runs and struck out 27 batters over 13 innings in a doubleheader sweep over visiting Keuka College on Tuesday. Fisher won the opener 2-0 as pitcher Lindsey Thayer tied the Fisher single-game record for strikeouts in a game with 19.  In the nightcap, Fisher pounded out 14 hits, while pitcher Halie Schoff allowed just one hit and fanned eight in an 8-0, six-inning win.

With the wins, Fisher, ranked No. 16 in the latest national coaches poll, improves to 17-3 overall, while Keuka falls to 4-6.

The Cardinals return to action at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and will host SUNY College at Brockport.

Game One - Fisher 2, Keuka 0

Thayer tied the Fisher record for strikeouts in a game with 19,  tying the record she set earlier in the year.  Thayer fanned the first 16 batters she faced before producing a pop-out bunt to the catcher with one out in the sixth.  With one out in the seventh, the sophomore lost her no-hit bit with a liner to center, but ended the game with a strikeout two batters later, raising her record to 10-1 on the year.  

Fisher took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI-groundout from Ashley Prince to score Karlie Neale.   In the fifth, Neale knocked in Lauren Owens, who led off the inning with a double. Both Prince and Owens each finished with two hits in the win.


Game Two - Fisher 8, Keuka 0 (6 innings)

Schoff was solid through six innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out eight in the win, which was halted with no outs in the sixth due to the eight-run mercy rule.   The win raises Schoff's record to 7-2 on the year.

Leadoff-batter Julia Sortisio put the Cardinals up for good in her team's very first at-bat of the game with a solo home run.   Later in the game, Owens tripled to score Jennifer Knaak to put Fisher up 2-0.

With Fisher up 4-0 and the bases load, Knaak went shopping in the gap in right-center, delivering a three-run double.    Needing just one more run to end the game, Fisher came through early in the sixth.   Leadoff hitter Kristina Balsano ripped a double to left and advanced to third on a single from Sortisio.  Katie Mazierski knocked in the game's final run with a shot down the line in right.

Sortisio and Mazierski each finished with three hits, while Neale added two hits, one run scored and one RBI.   Knaak tallied two hits ans week, while Prince and Balsano each contributed a run and a base hit.  Freshmen Sam Schermerhorn singled, while Sarah Kubik scored a run.