COLUMBUS, Ga. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball squad dropped its final two games of the NFCA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex on Sunday morning. The Cardinals, which are ranked 15th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, skid to 0-6 on the 2022 season, behind an 8-2 loss to No. 18 Belhaven University (Mississippi), who improved to 7-1, and a 4-0 loss to No. 8 Salisbury University, who improved to 14-2.
 
NO. 18 BELHAVEN 8, NO. 15 ST. JOHN FISHER 2
 
Maddie Donlin wore down the Belhaven ace early in the top of the first inning, earning a full-count walk to put a baserunner on. It wasn't long after that Allie Klonowski stepped to the plate and unleashed on a fastball, taking it to deep left center field for her second dinger of the spring trip and first of the day to put the Cardinals on top, 2-0.
 
The Blazers fought back in the bottom of the inning though, using three hits to even the score at two-all.
 
After trading zeroes, Belhaven extended their lead to six following two home runs on three hits in the third inning and three RBI base knocks in the following, while the Cardinals amassed just two hits over the timeframe.
 
Despite three more innings to revive the bats, Fisher went 1-2-3 in each of the chances while the Blazers maintained their lead, to close the game at 8-2.
 
Klonowski's lone hit was good for a run scored and two RBI to lead the Cardinals, while Emma Smith earned a base hit of her own to pair with a walk in two at bats, while Amalia DeMartino went 1-for-3 at the plate.
 
Jess Patterson took her third loss of the year in the circle after allowing seven runs and 11 hits and striking out two over three and a third innings of work. Lefty Jenna Leydecker threw 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just three hits in 11 batters faced.
 
NO. 8 SALISBURY 7, NO. 15 ST. JOHN FISHER 0
 
Fisher and Salisbury looked nearly identical over the first two innings of play, as both teams recorded a hit in seven at bats, while starting pitcher Cassidy Ormond struck out four of the first six batters she faced.
 
The shutout was short-lived, however, as a Salisbury walk and single set the Seagulls up for a no-out three-run homer cranked over the left field fence. Ainsley Evanetski was quickly called in to stop the bleeding in its tracks, as the freshman pitcher threw into two force outs and Mari Spitz capped the half inning by tossing a baserunner out at second.
 
After two scoreless innings of play, however, Salisbury reopened the scoring with back to back singles, which allowed a run to cross the plate on a sacrifice fly. Just an inning later, the Seagulls extended its eventually untouchable lead to seven, following a three-run homer by the leadoff hitter.
 
Cardinals' leadoff hitter of the game, Ava Mills, earned a hit and a walk in two at bats, while DeMartino and Clare Boegel rounded out the remaining Fisher hits with one apiece.
 
Ormond pitched two innings in the circle and was denoted with the loss after allowing three hits, three runs, striking out four and walking just one in 10 batters faced. Evanetski delivered the remaining five innings on the mound, allowing five hits, four runs and striking out three in 17 batters faced.
 
Allison Rogowski was dubbed the medal-winner for Fisher, putting her name on the list for the NFCA Leadoff Classic's All-Tournament team, as the senior corner infielder worked a team-leading batting average of .278 to go along with a team-high five hits. She also scored a run, tallied an RBI, and rocked a .556 OPS over 18 at bats, striking out just twice.
 
The Cardinals will now enjoy an off day here in Georgia, before returning to play on Tuesday, March 8th when they travel to LaGrange College for a doubleheader with the Panthers at 4 P.M. and 6 P.M.