ALFRED, N.Y. – The second-seeded St. John Fisher College softball team had its season come to a close on Saturday as the Cardinals forced a winner-take-all seventh game in the Empire 8 Championship, but were unable to overcome top-seeded Alfred University at Harrison Field.  With the split, the Cardinals wrap up the 2022 campaign at 18-19 while the Saxons, who earned their second straight Empire 8 Championship and the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Softball Championship, improved to 25-14.

FISHER 6, ALFRED 2

The Cardinals put the game away early after coming up with five runs on just two hits in the top of the first.  Amalia DeMartino led off for Fisher and was hit by a pitch before Maddie Donlin reached on a fielder's choice.  With two on and no outs, Abby Flakus reached to load the bases for Allison Rogowski who drove in a pair with a hard-hit single to center.  Leading 2-0, and with two runners still aboard, Allie Klonowski stepped in and ripped a three-run home run to left that gave Fisher a five-run cushion.

After giving one back in the home half of the first, Fisher added to its lead in the top of the fourth when Flakus singled in Becca Irizarry who had singled earlier in the inning.

Trailing 6-1, Alfred cut the gap to four runs after scoring in the bottom of the sixth, but the Saxons were unable to string together a long inning as Fisher stayed alive in the double elimination tournament.

Ainsley Evanetski (8-3) picked up the win in the circle after the freshman allowed two runs (one earned) over seven frames.  She finished with five strikeouts.

ALFRED 9, FISHER 0

In the nightcap, neither team was able to break through until the Saxons plated a run in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to right that made it 1-0.

With one run on the board, Alfred added to its lead in the top of the fifth with six runs on three hits and a costly error to open up a 7-0 advantage.  After setting the side down in order in the bottom of the inning, Alfred put the game away in the sixth inning with two more runs after coming through with a two-out double to claim a 9-0 lead.

Cassidy Ormond (7-8) was pegged with the loss after giving up six runs (one earned) on five hits over 4.2 innings.  Evanetski surrendered one unearned run over a third of an inning and Jess Patterson was tagged for two runs on two hits over one inning.