CLERMONT, Fla. – The St. John Fisher softball team opened the 2026 season with wins against Emmanuel College and Carnegie Mellon on Sunday in the Spring Games and Hancock Park. 

Game 1: St. John Fisher 6, Emmanuel 3

The Saints struck first in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third, Lucy Weineck scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Samantha Serio lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate MeKayla Poisson and extend the lead.

St. John Fisher responded in the top of the third with two outs. Sarah Gross singled to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and stole third. Taylor Shackleton then drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Emily McManus, who blasted a three-run home run to right-center to give the Cardinals the lead.

In the top of the fourth, Gracie Curella came to the plate with a runner on first and doubled to left field, scoring Maddy Schubach. Madi Rose then delivered a double to left, plating Curella and giving the Cardinals a three-run advantage.

Emmanuel answered in the bottom half of the inning when Grace Garon scored on a wild pitch to trim the deficit.

The final run came in the fifth, as Leah Fron singled to left field to drive in McManus and secure the win for the Cardinals.

Hallie Lorimer pitched all seven innings for the Cardinals and earned credit for the victory, the first of her collegiate career. She allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

Game 2: St. John Fisher 13, Carnegie Mellon 6

The Terriers struck first in the top of the third when Regan Diamond blasted a two-run home run to center field. They added to their lead an inning later as Sophia Doherty singled down the left-field line to score Riya Sharda.

St. John Fisher answered in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Julia Hollister singled to center to put the Cardinals on the board. Rose followed with a single to the left to cut the deficit to one. Gross then lined a two-run single down the right-field line to give the Cardinals the lead.

The Cardinals kept the momentum going as Schackleton singled to center to push the lead to two. Two batters later, Mahar delivered a two-run single to right field to make it 7-3.

The inning concluded when CC Holmes lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring McManus and capping the fourth-inning surge.

Carnegie Mellon pulled within two in the top of the sixth when Diamond doubled down the left-field line, driving in three runs. 

The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning. Mahar tripled to right-center to score McManus. Schubach followed with a single to right to plate another run, and Hollister drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.

Alyssa Dawson later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to six. Gross capped the scoring with an RBI groundout to shortstop, bringing home the final run of the game.

Molly Kuhn earned credit for the victory in the circle, pitching all seven innings. She struck out four batters, matching her career high.

Up Next

The Cardinals will face Alma College and Marian University at 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Monday, Mar. 2, at Legends Way Ballfield in Clermont, F.L.