PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher softball team split an Empire 8 conference doubleheader against Elmira College on Senior Day Saturday. The Cardinals earned an 8-2 win in game one before falling 4-3 in extra innings in game two.
With the split, Fisher moved to 19-9 overall (10-2 Empire 8), while Elmira improved to 4-11 (3-5 Empire 8).
Before the games, the Cardinals honored six seniors: Emma Maclachlan, Madi Rose, Leah Fron, Isabella Mahar, Gracie Curella, and Hallie Lorimer.
Game One: St. John Fisher 8, Elmira 2
The Cardinals struck early, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, freshman Sarah Gross, junior Taylor Shackleton, and Mahar recorded consecutive singles to load the bases. Junior CC Holmes then delivered a bases-clearing double to left field to give Fisher a 3-0 lead.
Elmira cut into the deficit in the third inning when Kristen Cole lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Sophia Polzella to make it 3-1.
The Soaring Eagles pulled within one in the fifth after Polzella launched a solo home run to left-center.
Fisher responded in the sixth with a five-run inning to pull away. Holmes led off the scoring with a two-run home run to center. Later in the inning, Lorimer and Fron singled, and Curella walked to load the bases. Rose reached on a throwing error, allowing Lorimer to score, before Gross added a two-run single to cap the scoring at 8-2.
Lorimer earned the win in the circle, tossing a complete game while allowing three hits and striking out a career-high six batters.
Game Notes
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Holmes went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and a career-high five RBIs.
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Gross recorded two hits, extending her multi-hit streak to five games.
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Mahar also finished with two hits.
Game Two: St. John Fisher 3, Elmira 4
Elmira jumped out to an early lead in game two as Polzella led off with a solo home run in the first inning.
Fisher answered in the third when Shackleton hit a leadoff home run to left to tie the game. Sophomore Julia Hollister followed with a double, and Mahar drove her in with a single to give the Cardinals a 2-1 advantage.
The Soaring Eagles evened the score in the fourth on a solo home run by Teona Cruz before taking a 3-2 lead in the fifth on another solo shot from Cole.
Fisher responded in the bottom half of the inning. Mahar singled, and sophomore Maddy Schubach followed with a base hit and advanced to second on an outfield error, allowing Mahar to score and tie the game at 3-3.
The score remained tied through seven innings, forcing extras. In the eighth, Jocelyn Jean lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home the go-ahead run, securing the 4-3 win for Elmira.
Junior Molly Kuhn went the distance for Fisher, pitching all eight innings and striking out a career-high nine batters.
Game Notes
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Mahar went 3-for-4, marking her third three-hit game of the season.
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Shackleton finished with two hits.
Up Next
The Cardinals return to action Wednesday, April 15, hosting SUNY Cortland for a doubleheader at 3 and 5 p.m. at the Softball Complex in Pittsford, N.Y.
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