TUCSON, A.Z. – The St. John Fisher College softball team opened up the 2020 season behind strong outings from its newcomers in a non-conference doubleheader against the University of Mary Washington at Abraham Lincoln Regional Park, but were upended in both affairs. The Cardinals begun their season 0-2 while their opponent improved to 6-3-1.
UMW 9, FISHER 5
After UMW jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning, the Cardinals gained one back on the scoreboard after newcomer
Maria Marcera blasted a solo home run over the left center fence for her first hit and RBI of her career in Cardinal and Gold.
The Eagles of UMW tacked on two more runs in the top of the second, but Fisher would not be silenced as freshman
Allie Klonowski ripped a double to left center field to score
Megan Kreger, trimming the deficit to two runs.
Three more runs crossed the plate for the opponent in the third inning, but the Eagles' pitcher gave up a leadoff
Emily Trotman double, then was subject to two walks and three wild pitches, allowing the Cardinals to add two runs to the board.
Klonowski and Marcera teamed up again in the fourth inning to add the Cardinals final run of the game as Klonowski singled up the middle and Marcera knocked a base-hit to send her teammate home.
Marcera went 3-for-3 in the matchup with one walk and 2 RBI while Klonowski tallied 2 hits on her three at-bats and drove in one run.
Trotman's pitching record fell to 0-1 after she faced 37 batters on the day, while allowing nine hits and striking out five.
UMW 10, FISHER 2
After a Trotman leadoff single, Fisher's offense stalled in its second game of the day as UMW added seven runs to the scoreboard over the first five innings of play.
Following three consecutive hits to open up the top of the sixth inning, sophomore
Rachel Evans batted in a run. Kreger then singled up the middle to score
Abby Flakus as the Cardinals reduced the UMW lead to 5.
The Eagles took over in the bottom of the sixth, as they added three more scores to the board, which proved to be insurmountable.
Despite getting her first start, freshman pitcher
Jess Patterson gave up eight hits and walked twelve batters, while her record dropped to 0-1.
The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow at 9 A.M. MST/11 A.M. EST as they face UMW for a third matchup with the Eagles, then meet with Emerson at 11 A.M. MST/1 P.M. EST.