PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball team took both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against Rochester Institute of technology on Monday afternoon at the Softball Complex. With the wins, Fisher, which is ranked fifth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, improved to 17-3 overall while the Tigers fell to 12-5 with the sweep.
FISHER 7, RIT 1
The Cardinals got things going in the bottom of the third inning after leading off with back-to-back singles by
Sam Schermerhorn and
Marissa Kirker, respectively. Fisher got on the board when
Julia Sortisio dropped down a sacrifice bunt and moved to second on a throwing error while Schermerhorn scored from second on the play. With runners at second and third,
Danielle Ventrone singled into center field to bring in Kirker to give the home team a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers got one back in the top of the fourth inning on two hits, but Fisher followed suit in the home half of the frame with a run of its own as Kirker blasted an RBI-double that scored
Emma Savas to make it 3-1.
After Fisher's pitching stranded two runners on base in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals tacked on four runs on four hits with Savas delivering the big blow in the form of a two out two-run double that scored both
Karlie Neale and
Sarah Kubik.
Junior pitcher
Lindsey Thayer continued her dominance inside the circle and moved to 10-3 on the year with the win. Thayer allowed one run on five hits while retiring seven via strikes.
Allison Uberty pitched the final inning and walked one with a strikeout.
Ventrone went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Schermerhorn was 2-for-3 at the plate. Neale went 1-for-1 with a walk to go along with an RBI and a run scored.
FISHER 7, RIT 1
Fisher again got off to a quick start after plating a pair in the bottom of the first inning. Sortisio led off with a double to left center before
Katie Mazierski earned her way on base with a walk. After both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by
Ashley Prince, Kubik loaded the bases with a walk of her own. With the bases full and just one out, Neale singled down the left field line and drove in two in the process before the Tigers could escape the inning without any further damage.
RIT cut Fisher's lead in half in the top of the third with a lead off solo homer, but the Cardinals put the game out of reach in the fifth inning with five runs on five hits to open up a 7-1 edge. Kirker and Sortisio each came up with two RBI in the inning while Neale drove in her third run of the game with an RBI double.
Monica Moses moved to 7-0 as the sophomore tossed a complete game and allowed just one run on six hits with three strikeouts.
Neale capped off the twin billing by going 3-for-3 in the nightcap with a double and three runs batted in while Sortisio had three hits in four at-bats along with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored.
Fisher will take on the University of Rochester on Tuesday on the road. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.
