Softball | 4/18/2023 10:02:00 AM

TROY, NY – The St. John Fisher University women's softball team (16-10, 5-3 Empire 8) have won four straight and will look to solidify their record and conference standings, in a week that features four Empire 8 matchups and an out of conference doubleheader.

The Cardinals will host all six games this weekend, beginning on Tuesday, April 18, when they open a doubleheader with SUNY Fredonia (2-18) at 3 p.m. The Cardinals will host the Houghton University Highlanders (7-20, 1-5 Empire 8) on Friday, April 21, with first pitch set for 3 p.m., before taking on the Keuka College Wolves (7-17, 2-6 Empire 8) for two on Saturday, April 22, beginning at 1 p.m.

Scouting the Opponents

The Cardinals lost both meetings to Fredonia last season on the road. Even though Fisher would score four runs in both contests, it would prove to not be enough in the 6-4 and 5-4 losses. The Cardinals will look to rebound against Fredonia, an out of conference team that has struggled mightily this season.

Impressively, Fisher is averaging nearly nine runs of offense a game against the Highlanders, as the Cardinals have won in each of the 20 matchups the teams have had since 2013. When the teams met a season ago, both games were high scoring, with Fisher winning 9-5 and 11-7.

Meanwhile, the Wolves have been held scoreless over the last four meetings against Fisher, as the Cardinals have outscored the Wolves 35-0 across those four games dating back to 2021. Across the last 16 meetings, Fisher has gone 15-1, dating back to the 2012 season.

Bird Watching

The Cardinals pitching staff has pitched to a 2.47 ERA this season with eight shutouts, all top of the Empire 8. While the Cardinals have given up the second most home runs in the league (nine), opponents are hitting 0.257 against Fisher, the best mark in the conference.

Cassidy Ormond leads the Empire 8 with a 1.22 ERA across 51.2 innings pitched, allowing 20 runs (only 9 earned). Meanwhile Ainsley Evanetski ranks first in opponent batting average (0.231) and fifth in ERA (2.49). The staff is led by Jess Patterson, who was named the Empire 8 pitcher of the week after ending last week with two quality starts, allowing just one earned run in 12 innings, while striking out 20 batters.

While pitching has been key to the success of the Cardinals season, Fisher will continue to look to improve their offense. Currently, the Cardinals 0.267 batting average ranks eighth (of nine) in the Empire 8, and their 0.351 OBP ranks seventh. Fisher also is tied for the fewest stolen base attempts in the conference, having gone 16-for-19 (84.2% success rate) in tries.

Player to Watch

Sophomore Amalia DeMartino is the player of the week to watch. While DeMartino struggled offensively to start the season, heading into the week, the shortstop is has recorded a hit in 10 of her last 11 games, going 10-for-28 (0.357) with four RBI's over that span.

DeMartino has started 26 games this year and 36 last year. DeMartino collected 115 at bats and 35 hits a season ago, and currently has 73 at bats and 19 hits.

While DeMartino hit 0.304 last season, compared to a 0.260 mark this year, the middle infielder has not lost her ability to get on base, drawing a career high 11 walks this season.  The native of Durham, Connecticut has reached base at a .365 mark this year, which is the same percent as last year.

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