COLUMBUS, Ga. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball team made its season debut on Friday as the Cardinals, who are ranked 15th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, fell to No. 3 Texas Lutheran and Claremont-Mudd-Scripts to begin the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Georgia.

No. 3 Texas-Lutheran 5, No. 15 Fisher, 3

After giving up a run in the bottom of the second on a double to left, Fisher saw the gap widen to three runs in the next frame as the Bulldogs, who finished as the national runner-up last season, scored two runs on three hits and a costly infield error by the Cardinals.

After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, Texas Lutheran struck again in the bottom of the sixth after sending six hitters to the plate and scoring twice on two more hits and two more errors.

Trailing 5-0 in the top of the seventh, Fisher's bats came to life.  Becca Irizarry opened the inning with an infield single and moved into scoring position when Allison Rogowski followed with a single of her to center.  With two runners on and no outs, Allie Klonowski stepped in and ripped a three-run shot over the left field fence to cut the gap to two runs.  As the inning continued, Mari Spitz poked a two-out single to second to bring the tying run up, but the Bulldogs closed out the comeback bid with a strikeout to seal the win.   

Jess Patterson (0-1) was hit with the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits.  The junior struck out six over six innings and walked a pair.

CLAREMONT-MUDD-SCRIPTS 8, No. 15 FISHER 3

The Cardinals got on the board first in the bottom of the opening inning when Rogowski drove in Maddie Donlin who had doubled in her first-career at-bat to make it 1-0 in Fisher's favor.

The advantage stuck until the top of the third when CMS belted six hits and took advantage of two key errors by the Cardinals to jump in front, 6-1.

After holding Fisher to one run over the next two innings, the Athenas tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth courtesy of a two-run shot to make it a six-run affair.

Trailing 8-2 in the seventh, Kelly Cournoyer worked a leadoff walk and scooted to third following an infield error by CMS.  With runners at the corners, Ava Mills picked up an RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice before the Athenas could retire the side for an 8-3 decision.

Cassidy Ormond (0-1) made her first collegiate start and yielded six runs (five earned) on seven hits over three innings.  Ainsley Evanetski was tagged for two runs on three hits in two innings while Jenna Leydecker threw two scoreless frames and scattered two hits.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday with two more difficult matchups beginning with Randolph-Macon at 2:30 p.m.  Fisher will faceoff with Coe College in the nightcap with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 p.m.