PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Sophomore Jess Patterson tossed her first-career no-hitter on Tuesday morning at the Softball Complex as the top-seeded St. John Fisher College softball team cruised to a 5-0 win over fifth-seeded Utica College to advance to the winner's bracket in the Empire 8 Championship.  With the win, Fisher, which is ranked 12th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, improved to 26-3 while Utica fell to 14-14 overall.

Patterson moved to 14-1 in the circle following the win as the Rensselaer native yielded just three walks and finished with seven strikeouts on the day.

After escaping a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning, Fisher found its footing in the home half of the third and plated two runs on three hits with Emily Trotman and Maria Marcera each driving in a run.

The game remained a two-run affair until the bottom of the sixth when the Cardinals sent eight hitters to the plate and pushed five runs across.  Sammie Torlish got the inning going with a single to center and advanced to second when Megan Kreger reached on a fielder's choice.  With two on and no outs, Allie Klonowski singled in a run before Allison Rogowski drove in a pair with a deep single to right-center before the Pioneers could retire the side.

In all, Fisher collected eight hits led by Trotman who was 2-for-4.  Emma Smith had two hits in all while Torlish, Rogowski, Klonowski, and Maddie Klidonas each had one hit.

Fisher will take on the winner of second-seeded Russell Sage and third-seeded Alfred University at 12 p.m. on Thursday.