PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher softball team split its doubleheader against SUNY Poly on Thursday afternoon at the SJF Softball Complex, winning the first game 4-1 before dropping the second game 11-6.
The Cardinals, who finish their regular-season slate against Utica this weekend, moved to 24-13 overall (16-4 Empire 8 Conference) with the results. With eight games left, Poly stands at 16-9 overall (8-4 Empire 8).
The Cardinals (32 points) still hold first place in the conference standings and have already clinched a spot in the E8 Championship Tournament. Utica (26 points) stands six points behind in second place with six regular-season games left on its schedule.
Game 1: St. John Fisher 4, SUNY Poly 1
The Cardinals did just enough offensively, and senior pitcher Ainsley Evanetski worked her way out of some jams as the Cardinals pulled out a 4-1 victory in the first game.
With two outs in the bottom half of the first inning, senior Amalia DeMartino brought home junior Madi Rose and senior Maddie Donlin with a double to center. Donlin, with two outs in the second inning, gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead with a single to center that scored senior Cassidy Evanetski from second base.
Ainsley Evanetski's first challenge came in the top of the third inning, when the first two Poly batters reached and advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. She kept those runners stranded, getting Shelbi Hagues to pop out to second before striking out Annabella Mondello to end the inning.
Poly put pressure on Evanetski and the Cardinals again in the fourth, as its first two batters in the frame walked and moved into scoring position on Kelly Powell's two-out single to left. Once again, though, Evanetski dug deep and recorded an inning-ending strikeout to escape.
In the bottom half of the inning, senior Katie Mannis scored on a passed ball to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.
The Wildcats scored their lone run in the seventh inning on Kimberly Birmingham's two-out double down the left field line.
Evanetski, who allowed seven hits and issued four walks, struck out 10 batters and improved to 11-6 on the season with the win.
Game 2: SUNY Poly 11, St. John Fisher 6
The Cardinals fell behind by six early and pulled within a run twice, but could never fully catch the Wildcats in an 11-6 loss in the second game of the day.
Poly scored three in the first and three more in the second inning before the Cardinals started to work their way back into the game.
Sophomore Emily McManus homered to right, senior Mari Spitz came across to score on an error and Cassidy Evanetski scampered home on a wild pitch to cut Poly's lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the second.
Sophomore pitcher Molly Kuhn, who entered the game in relief of senior Cassidy Ormond in the second inning, held Poly scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings, keeping the Cardinals within striking distance.
In the bottom of the fifth, senior Tori LoPresto doubled home DeMartino and Spitz to pull the Cardinals within a run, 6-5.
Poly got one back in the top of the sixth, but Fisher once again had a response in the bottom half of the inning, cutting its deficit to 7-6 on sophomore Taylor Shackleton's double to left. McManus, who represented the go-ahead run, reached on a walk before Poly escaped trouble on Spitz's sharp line out to center.
The Wildcats pulled away in the top of the seventh with four runs to take an 11-6 lead.
Up Next
The Cardinals face Utica at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday at the SJF Softball Complex. They will honor their seniors before the first game.
