PLANT CITY, Fla. – Allison Rogowski of the St. John Fisher College softball team pitched her first-career complete game as the Cardinals defeated Bluffton College, 8-2, before falling in their nightcap to Illinois College, 4-2. With the split, Fisher moved to 4-3 on the season.
FISHER 8, BLUFFTON 2
The Beavers got off to a fast start and plated a run in the top of the first, but the Cardinals roared back with three runs in the home half of the frame.
Julia Sortisio reached first base courtesy of an infield error by Bluffton and moved to second after
Maddie Klidonas bunted her over. With a runner in scoring position and one away,
Ashley Prince boomed a run-scoring double to left center to make it 1-0. Prince didn't remain at second for long, however, as
Sarah Kubik replaced her at second with an RBI-double down the left field line before
Mary Claire Grosvenor drove in a run with a single to center to make it 3-1.
After a scoreless second inning of play, Fisher came up with three hits and two runs in the bottom of the third to make it 5-1. Kubik got the inning going with a single through the left side of the infield and moved to second when
Sammie Torlish laced a single to center to put two runners on. After the Beavers came up with a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Fisher used its legs as both Kubik and Torlish stole a base before
Jessica Sardina uncorked a two-run double to score both runners.
Fisher padded its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with three more runs on three more hits with the big blow coming in the form of a two-run double by Sortisio to make it 8-1. As the inning continued, Prince also collected an RBI-double before the Beavers could retire the side.
Trailing by six runs with three outs left in play, Bluffton would load the bases with one away. Following a pop out to third base, the Beavers scored a run after Rogowski hit a batter to make it 8-2, but the freshman hurler got the next batter to fly out to center to end the game.
Rogowski (2-0) pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits.
ILLINOIS COLLEGE 4, FISHER 2
IC took an early 2-0 lead into the second inning after plating a pair in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals would shave a run off the deficit in the second frame when Klidonas singled through the right side to score Sardina, but two more runs in the home half of the inning by Illinois College made it a 4-1 game.
After swapping zeroes throughout the next four innings, Fisher got something going in the top of the seventh with Soritsio singling in a run, but that was as close as the Cardinals would get as IC shut down the comeback bid.
Emily Trotman started in the circle and suffered the loss to move to 2-2 on the year. Trotman allowed four runs on six hits and finished with three strikeouts.
Fisher will wrap up its play in Florida with a pair of games beginning with a 10 a.m. showdown with Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Following that tilt, the Cardinals will face Muskingum for the second time this week.
