PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher softball team earned another conference sweep over Russell Sage College on Friday. The Cardinals took game one in five inning, 9-1, before securing a 7-1 victory in game two.

With the sweep, Fisher improved to 13-7 overall (4-0 Empire 8), while the Gators fall to 8-8 overall (1-3 Empire 8).

Game One: St. John Fisher 9, Russell Sage 1 (five innings)

The Cardinals came out strong in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Madi Rose led off with a single, and freshman Sarah Gross followed with a line drive up the middle to put runners on first and second. Junior Taylor Shackleton then delivered a three-run home run to left-center field, giving the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead.

The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the third. With two outs, senior Leah Fron drew a walk, and senior Gracie Curella doubled down the left-field line to score Fron and extend the lead to 4-0.

Russell Sage cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth. With runners on first and second, Emily O'Keefe singled to right field, scoring Allison Kenyon to make it 4-1.

The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning to take control. With one out, Gross singled to center field and stole second. Shackleton followed with her second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left-center, pushing the lead to 6-1. A batter later, with two outs, senior Isabella Mahar doubled to left-center, and junior CC Holmes followed with a RBI double to left, extending the lead to 7-1. Sophomore Maddy Schubach was by a pitch, and Fron walked to load the bases. Curella was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run, and Rose drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the scoring and secure the win.

Junior Molly Kuhn earned the win the circle, pitching a complete five innings. She allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out five.

Game Notes

•  Shackleton hit two home runs for the first time in her collegiate career and finished with a career-high five RBIs.

• Rose, Gross, and Holmes each recorded two hits.

Game Two: St. John Fisher 7, Russell Sage 1

Russell Sage took a 1-0 lead in the top of first inning on a RBI groundout by Allison Kenyon, which score Izabelle Ratcliffe.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom of the third. With on our, Shackleton doubled to right-center and junior Emily McManus walked to put runners on the corners. Mahar tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Fisher brok the game open in the fourth inning. With two outs, Curella hit a solo home run to give the Cardinals the lead. Rose followed with a single, and Gross added another to put two runners on. Shackleton then doubled down the left-field line, driving in both runners to make it a three-run game. McManus followed with an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw.

The Cardinals added insurance in the fifth inning. Holmes led off with a solo home run to make it 6-1. Later in the inning, with a runner on first and two outs, Gross singled to center field to drive in the final run and cap the scoring.

Holmes earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete seven innings. She allowed just three hits and one walk while recording a career-high six strikeouts. This marks her third outing this season allowing three or fewer hits.

Game Notes

• Shackleton led the team with three hits her fourth game in a row with two or more hits.

• Gross tallied two hits her third consecutive game with multiple hits.

• Rose, Holmes, and Curella all recorded two hits.

Up Next

The Cardinals will face Hartwick College in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 1p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at the Softball Complex in Pittsford, N.Y.