PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher softball team split a conference doubleheader against Alfred University on Wednesday at the Softball Complex. The Cardinals took game one, 11-5, before the Saxons responded with an 8-5 win in game two.

With the split, Fisher moved to 16-8 overall (7-1 Empire 8), while Alfred sits at 9-9 overall (3-3 Empire 8).

Game One: St. John Fisher 11, Alfred 5

Alfred struck first in the top of the opening inning as Bella Mistretta lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, giving the Saxons a 1-0 lead.

Fisher answered immediately in the bottom half. Senior Madi Rose drew a four-pitch walk, while freshman Sarah Gross and junior Taylor Shackleton followed with singles to load the bases. Senior Isabella Mahar delivered an RBI single to even the score, and junior CC Holmes reached on a fielding error that allowed another run to score and gave the Cardinals the lead. Sophomore Maddy Schubach added an RBI single to center to make it 3-1.

The Cardinals extended their advantage in the second inning. Senior Gracie Curella singled ot right-center, Rose drew her second walk, and Gross recorded another hit to load the bases. Shackleton reached on an error that brought home Curella, and junior Alyssa Dawson followed with an RBI single to score Rose and push the lead to 5-1.

The score held until the sixth inning when Alfred mounted a comeback. Mistretta doubled in a run before Molly Whitmyer added an RBI single. Kendall Steward then tied the game at 5-5 with a two-run home run to left field.

Fisher responded in the bottom of the inning. With runners on the corners, Mahar delivered an RBI single to regain the lead. Schubach drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the margin, and sophomore Julia Hollister broke the game open with a grand slam to left field, giving the Cardinals an 11-5 advantage they would not relinquish. 

Junior pitcher Molly Kuhn pitched a complete game in the circle for the Cardinals, striking out two.

Game Notes

• Hollister hit her first career grand slam and set a career high of four RBIs.

• Gross went a perfect 4-for-4.

• Mahar and Schubach each recorded two hits and two RBIs.

Game Two: St. John Fisher 5, Alfred 8

The Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the first inning. With the bases loaded, Hollister lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in a run, and Gross later scored on a passed ball to give Fisher an early 2-0 lead.

Alfred answered in the top of the second to tie the game. Brielle Wark reached on a fielder's choice that drove in a run, and Kendall Steward later stole home to even the score at 2-2.

The game remained tied until the third inning when Fisher regained control. Shackleton delivered an RBI single to left field, and Hollister followed with a double down the left-field line to extend the lead. Mahar added another RBI with a double to left-center, making it 5-2.

The Saxons chipped away at the deficit in the fourth inning as Ally Bougler recorded an RBI double to left field to cut the lead to two runs.

Alfred continued its rally in the fifth when Whitmyer singled to left field, trimming the deficit to 5-4.

The Saxons took the lead in the sixth inning. Alexis Martinez singled to right field, driving in two runs to put Alfred ahead.

Alfred added insurance in the seventh. Paris Guzman singled to shortstop to bring in a run, and Wark followed with an RBI single to left-center to cap the scoring and secure the 8-5 win.

Holmes pitched all seven innings for the Cardinals, striking out four, which marks her second outing this season striking out four or more.

Game Notes

• Gross, Shackleton, and Hollister recorded two hits apiece.

Up Next

The Cardinals will face Keuka College in a conference doubleheader on Friday, April 10, at 3 & 5 p.m. in Keuka Park, N.Y.