PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College softball team will look to continue its run of NCAA appearances this season as the 2020 campaign is set to get underway next Monday against the University of Mary Washington as the Cardinals will play six games as part of the Tuscon Classic before taking on some of Division III's best at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Arizona.

Fisher, which is coming off its third consecutive Empire 8 Championship and fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, graduated some of the top players in program history at the conclusion of last season, however, head coach Bari Mance believes this year's squad still boasts some of the region's top talent.

"We are looking forward to competing this season," added Mance who is entering her seventh season at the helm where she has amassed 195 career wins.  "Expectations are high, and we've been working hard all preseason long, it's about transitioning that work onto the field.  We have a relatively young team, but our upperclassmen are doing an excellent job leading our team."

The Cardinals are coming off a season in which they led the Empire 8 last season in nearly every offensive category including batting average (.318), hits (394), runs (240), doubles (75), home runs (39), RBI (223), slugging percentage (.481) and total bases (596).

Gone is Sarah Kubik who graduated as the program's all-time leader in home runs and RBI.  Gone are Ashley Prince and Julia Sortisio – each of who eclipsed 200 career hits.  Despite the loss of three Al-Region players, Fisher still features a lineup that is capable of replicating last season's successes.  A two-time All-Region selection, junior shortstop Sammie Torlish is back for another season after posting a team-leading .394 batting average last year.  Over 44 games, Torlish accounted for 50 hits, eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 22 RBI.  The Victor native was named First-Team All-Conference for the second consecutive season and had 14 multi-hit games a season ago.

Mance has the luxury of penciling in two All-Conference players in the lineup including Emily Trotman and Abby Flakus.  Trotman, who would go on to be named Third-Team All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, had a breakout season in the circle as the junior went 23-11 on the year with a 2.84 earned run average and 97 strikeouts over 212.0 innings.  Trotman's 23 wins marked the fifth-highest single-season total in Fisher's history and included a no-hitter against Alfred in the opening game of the Empire 8 Championship.  The East Amherst native can also swing the bat as she ranked fourth on the team with a .324 batting average to go along with 35 hits, five doubles, 12 RBI and 28 runs scored.
 
Flakus provided some power to the middle of the lineup and was named First-Team All-Empire 8 after hitting .314 as a freshman with seven extra base hits and 14 RBI.

Fisher's roster is deep and one of the more experienced lineups in the conference with its lone senior Lyndsey Murray having been a part of two deep runs in the NCAA Championship.  The Cardinals also have high expectations for their upper class including junior Maria Marcera who had a solid career at crosstown Monroe Community College before transferring to Fisher last fall.  Megan Kreger, Allison Osterhoudt and Maddie Klidonas round out the experienced junior class while second-year player Rachel Makowski is expected to see significant time in the outfield.  Fellow sophomore Allison Rogowski provided some pop for Fisher last year and gives Mance some flexibility with the lineup as she is capable of toeing the rubber if need be.  Rachel Evans is also someone who could see an expanded role as the sophomore ranked fifth on the team with four dingers last year and produced 17 runs batted in. 

Fisher will also look to its talented incoming corps of freshmen including Jess Patterson, Emma Smith, Clare Boegel, Kenzie Bowerman, Allie Klonowski and Grace Mroczka.

The season begins out west as Fisher travels to Tucson, Arizona on March 2nd for 12 games as part of the Tuscon Classic and the NFCA Leadoff Classic, which features some of the top teams from across Division III.  Mance's squad will make its way back to New York for a home doubleheader against crosstown rival University of Rochester on March 25th before taking of the Ithaca College Bombers three days later at home.

From there, Fisher will jump into Empire 8 play as The Sage Colleges visits campus on March 29th before the Cardinals take to the road for a non-conference twin billing against Keuka College on April 2nd.

On April 3rd, the Cardinals will make their way to Houghton for another conference doubleheader and will return campus for the first of three straight doubleheaders at home beginning with Alfred University on April 4th.  Three days later, SUNY Cortland comes to town before the home stand comes to an end on April 10th with a pair against Utica College.

The Cardinals are scheduled to play two at Elmira on April 11th and will make their way to the Port City of Oswego on April 14th for another non-conference doubleheader.  Following that, the team will travel across town to RIT for a doubleheader on April 15th before facing Nazareth College in an Empire 8 doubleheader on April 18th.

Three days later on April 21st, Fisher will square off with Buffalo State in Western New York before closing out the home portion of their schedule on April 22nd against The College at Brockport.

The Cardinals will conclude their regular season lineup on the road against Clarkson University on April 26th.

The Empire 8 Championship, which will be played at the highest overall seed, will begin Friday, May 1st with the winner being crowned on Sunday.

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