CORTLAND, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball team was back in action on Saturday as the Cardinals, who are ranked 11th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, split with SUNY Cortland in a non-conference doubleheader at Red Dragon Field. With the split, Fisher moved to 5-1 on the year while the Red Dragons closed out the day at 3-1.
CORTLAND 4, FISHER 1
After a scoreless first inning of play, Fisher jumped out to an early lead after
Allie Klonowski smoked a home run down the left field line to stake the Cardinals to a 1-0 edge.
The lead held through four innings of play until the Red Dragons plated two in the bottom of the fifth after a dropped fly ball in the Cardinals' outfield pushed the home team ahead, 2-1.
Cortland was aided by two more Fisher errors in the top of the sixth as the Red Dragons tacked on two runs to go up by three, 4-1, and would retire the side in order in the top of the seventh to earn the win.
Emily Trotman (2-1) was credited with the loss as the senior threw six innings and allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits with two strikeouts.
FISHER 5, CORTLAND 4
After trading zeroes over the first two innings, Fisher was able to break through in the top of the third when
Maria Marcera belted a one-out double and came around to score following a single to left by
Sammie Torlish to make it 1-0.
In the home half of the third, Cortland was able to get the run back after the Red Dragons scored on a wild pitch to knot things up at one run apiece.
The game remained tied until the top of the fifth as Fisher plated two runs on two hits and three big Cortland errors to hold a 3-1 edge.
Emily Trotman led off the frame with a double and moved to third when Marcera singled through the left side. With two on and no outs, Torlish reached on a throwing error with Trotman scoring on the play. Two batters later,
Abby Flakus reached on another infield error as Marcera crossed home plate before Cortland could get out of the jam.
Leading by two runs, Fisher gave itself some breathing room in the top of the sixth as Trotman clubbed an RBI-double before Torlish followed suit with a two-base RBI of her own to open up a four-run cushion heading to the home half of the sixth.
After failing to score in the bottom of the inning, Cortland came to bat in the bottom of the seventh facing a 5-1 gap. The Red Dragons led off with a back-to-back singles and eventually loaded the bases before a single to center forced two runners home to make it 5-3. The next hitter would draw a walk to reload the bases, but Fisher was able to work out of trouble with an inning ending double play to preserve the 5-4 win.
The Cardinals accounted for 10 hits in the nightcap led by Trotman and Torlish who had three apiece. Marcera was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while Klonowski and
Rachel Evans each had one hit in the win.
Jess Patterson moved to 3-0 in the circle after going seven strong innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts.
Fisher will have a day off before returning to the diamond at 3 p.m. on Monday when it welcomes Oswego State to the Softball Complex for a non-conference doubleheader.
