PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher softball team was swept in a doubleheader against Ithaca on Sunday at the SJF Softball Complex, falling 5-0 in the first game and 23-10 in the second.Â
Game One: St. John Fisher 0, Ithaca 5
The Bombers came out strong in the top of the first, putting runners on first and third. Elise Waddington delivered a single to center field to drive in the game's first run and give the Bombers an early lead.
They carried that momentum into the second inning, when Kailen Winkelblech singled to left field to score another run and extend the lead to 2-0.
The score held until the top of the sixth. With runners on second and third and one out, Anna Bello grounded out to second base, bringing in a run. Moments later, Winkelblech reached on a fielding error by the right fielder, allowing another run to score and pushing the Bombers' advantage to four.
In the seventh, the Bombers added an insurance run. With one out and a runner on third, Ava Rao grounded out to shortstop, driving in the final run of the game.
Game Two: St. John Fisher 10, Ithaca 23 (6 innings)
Ithaca carried its momentum from game one into the second game, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. With a runner on third and two outs, Winkelblech reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Emersen Poulin to score. Waddington followed with a single to center field, driving in Winkelblech to give the Bombers an early 2-0 lead.
St. John Fisher responded with a huge bottom half of the inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, CC Holmes singled to shortstop to load the bases. A pitch then hit Hallie Lorimer to bring in a run. Maddy Schubach followed with a single to right-center, scoring Taylor Shackleton and Holmes to give the Cardinals the lead.
The two-out rally continued as Leah Fron singled to right field to drive in Lorimer, and Gracie Curella added a single down the left-field line to plate Schubach. Madi Rose kept the inning alive with a single to shortstop to reload the bases before Sarah Gross singled to left, bringing in Fron. In Shackleton's second at-bat of the inning, she reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Curella to score. A wild pitch plated Rose, and Isabella Mahar reached on a fielder's choice that scored Gross. Holmes capped the inning with a single through the left side, scoring Shackleton and extending the lead to 10-2.
The Bombers answered in the top of the second inning. Molly Gibson drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a double ot left field by Paige Cannon, trimming the deficit. Jessie Lopez followed with a four-pitch walk to put two runners on, and Bello singled to center field to score a run, cutting the Cardinals' lead to six.
Sydney Mirand then tripled down the right-field line, driving in two more runs to further narrow the gap. Winkelbleck followed with a single to left field to bring in another run. After a pitching change by the Cardinals, Isabella Maynard tied the game with a home run to left field, making it 10-10.
In the third, Poulin singled and later advanced to third after Miranda reached on an infield single. Miranda attempted to steal second, and Poulin scored on the play to give the Bombers the lead.
Ithaca added to its advantage in the fourth when Waddington led off the inning with a solo home run down the left-field line.Â
The game began to slip away from the Cardinals in the fifth. Miranda doubled to center field to drive in a run, then later stole home to extend the lead to four.
In the sixth, Bellow doubled to right-center with one out and a runner on third to bring in another run. With two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning, Waddington was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Maynard followed with a grand slam to break the game wide open. After another pitching change, Bello added an RBI single, and Poulin capped the scoring with a single to center field, driving in the final runs of the game.
Up Next
The Cardinals will open Empire 8 Conference play against Houghton University on Monday. Games will start at 3 and 5 p.m.Â
