Softball | 4/12/2024 12:59:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University softball team continues its Empire 8 schedule this weekend, playing a doubleheader against Russell Sage College at Honeoye Falls-Lima on Saturday. 
 
The Cardinals have won four straight and sit tied atop the Empire 8 standings with a 2-0 conference record alongside a 14-4 overall mark. 
 
Here's what you need to know:
 
Last Time Out
The Cardinals swept Buffalo State on Tuesday, beating the Bengals 10-2 and 2-1 in Buffalo. Fisher forced a run-rule finish in six innings in the first game before edging out the Bengals thanks to a nice performance from the circle by junior Cassidy Ormond in game two. The team is now 12-4 in out-of-conference play this season, 
 
Know Your Foe: Russell Sage
The Russell Sage College Gators enter this weekend's games 4-12 overall, including a 1-1 mark in conference play. Most recently, they split a doubleheader with Skidmore on Wednesday. 
 
The Gators are a fast team, stealing 34 bases so far this season, second-best in the conference. Two of the top five base-stealers in the Empire 8 play for Sage, and the Gators' six steals against Keuka on April 7 are tied for the most in a game this year for the conference. Madalyn Ring is the most notable threat on the basepaths for them and is second in the league in the category, with 11. In the circle, Sage is paced by Leah Madore, who is second in the conference in innings pitched (60.1) and fourth in strikeouts (42). 
 
The Cardinals have a 12-3 record over the Gators since 2006, including a 4-1 mark last season. The lone defeat to Sage in 2023 came during the Empire 8 tournament, although the Cardinals were able to recover and eliminate Sage later that day to clinch the Empire 8 title. 
 
Fun Fact: The founders of Russell Sage were involved in the American suffragist movement. 
 
Mad(die) About Donlin
The reigning Empire 8 Player of the Week, junior outfielder Maddie Donlin earned the award by hitting .750 (6-for-8) against Alfred University last weekend, driving in five runs in the process. The Vestal native has kept up her high level of play since, recording a double and an RBI at Buffalo State earlier this week. Her .436 batting average and .483 on-base-percentage are both fourth-best in the Empire 8 this season, while she sits fifth in total hits (24). 
 
A is for Awesome (And Ainsley Evanetski)
Even as Donlin was winning awards for heroics at the plate, junior Aisnley Evanetski earned acclaim in the circle, nabbing a Co-Pitcher of the Week honor. The Brighton graduate had a complete game shutout on Saturday against Alfred, allowing just three hits over six innings in the 8-0 win while striking out seven. Evanetski currently has a 1.43 ERA, the fourth-best in the conference. Her 53 strikeouts are the second-best in the Empire 8. 
 
What Comes Next
After this weekend's Empire 8 games, the Cardinals begin a string of non-conference contests, starting with a doubleheader at SUNY Fredonia on Tuesday, April 16.

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