Softball | 3/28/2023 1:36:00 PM

PITTSFORD, NY – The St. John Fisher University women's softball team (7-5) will look shake off being swept in a doubleheader last week, as they premiere at home on Tuesday, March 28, hosting the RIT Tigers (1-11-1). First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. at RIT Softball complex.
 
From there, the Cardinals will hit the road for doubleheaders on Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. On Saturday, the Cardinals will travel to Potsdam to take on the Clarkson University Golden Knights in a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The road trip will continue on Sunday, as the Cardinals prepare for another doubleheader, their third of the week, at the Ithaca College Bombers (8-3-1), with first pitch also set for 1 p.m.
 
Scouting the Opponents
The Tigers have struggled this season, going 1-11-1, with their only win coming in their most recent game, an 8-1 win at Elmira on Friday, March 24. When the teams met last season, the Cardinals won both games, allowing just one run and 10 hits over the two games played (14 innings). Fisher would plate two in the first game and six in the second game, powered by a five-RBI day for Allie Klonowski.
 
Meanwhile, the Cardinals will look to build on a 5-1 program record against the Golden Knights, with the only loss coming in 2019. In one of the two matchups during the 2021 campaign, it took nine innings to decide a winner, with the walk off run scoring on a sacrifice fly. The Golden Knights have posted a 5-7 record to start their season and will look to get back on track when they host SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday, March 29, after dropping their last two contests.
 
Ithaca College will host SUNY Geneseo on Saturday before facing Fisher on Sunday, as the Bombers seek to improve their record from 8-3. The Cardinals have dropped three straight to the Bombers, dating back to the 2019 season. When the wo teams met for a doubleheader last season, the Cardinals were held to just two runs over the two games, with both runs coming in the second game on solo home runs, including a blast from Cassidy Evanetski.
 
Schedule Update
The busy week for the Cardinals comes with a scheduling change, as Fisher was set to host RIT originally on Wednesday. This week marks the start of the Cardinals playing 14 games over 11 days, with the majority of the games being played on the road (8 of 14).
 
The last four contests, which will be played at home, April 7 vs. Medaille and April 8 vs. Alfred, mark the start of Empire 8 play, as Fisher will seek to reclaim the title for the first time since the 2019 season.
 
Player to Watch
The success of sophomore catcher Mari Spitz has carried over from last season, as Spitz has hit 0.389 this season, collecting 14 hits in 36 at bats and plating two runs. Across 12 games, Spitz has only struck out three times as part of her .450% on base percentage. Spitz is a career 0.359 hitter across 47 games, and her 0.389 average is 40 points higher than the 2022 season, when Spitz hit 0.349.
 
Across 52 putouts, Spitz has only been credited with one error this season.
 
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