ALFRED, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University softball team competed in the finals of the Empire 8 Softball Championship final against Russell Sage College. The Cardinals were able to reclaim glory after falling in the final game of the competition the previous two seasons. After falling in the first game, 1-0, the came back in the second game to win 6-1.
                                                                                                                                                                                
In the opening game loss, the Cardinals were able to record just three hits and were shut out by the Gators. Jess Patterson pitched a completed game allowing the one run on five hits and striking out seven.
 
In the decisive game of the tournament, the Cardinals jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the second inning. Mari Spitz led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on an error. Allie Klonowski reached on that error and scored on a double by Donlin. Cassidy Evanetski drove in the third run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Gators got one run back in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Cardinals would add three key insurance runs in the top of the seventh, as Klonowski singled and scored on a double to the left-centerfield gap by Kelly Cournoyer. Donlin followed by putting the game away with a two-run homer.

Maddie Donlin was 2-for-3 with a home run, double and three RBI to lead St. John Fisher offensively in the decisive contest. St. John Fisher hurler Ainsley Evanetski scattered 11 hits to earn her ninth win of the season. She struck out four batters and threw 72 
 
Senior outfielder Allie Klonowski was named the 2023 Empire 8 Softball Championship Most Valuable Player. She enjoyed a tremendous tournament, batting .462 (6-for-13) with three runs scored and two RBI in the four games.
 
The Cardinals secured an berth in the NCAA Division III tournament and will next look toward the NCAA Division III Regionals with the Selection Show scheduled to air on Monday, May 15 at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. The Cardinals are Empire 8 Champions for the eighth time in program history.
 
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