St. John Fisherl Pushes Win Streak to Seven with Sweep of Utica
The St. John Fisher College softball team improved to 6-2 in the Empire 8 Conference after five different players sent it over the fence and the team recorded 28 hits in a sweep of host Utica College on Sunday afternoon.
Game one:
Fisher 9, Utica 3
Fisher opened the game with six runs over the first four innings before the Pioneers could answer with a run in the bottom of the fifth. The Cardinals tacked on three more runs over the final two innings, and although Utica began a rally for two runs in the bottom of the seventh, the host couldn’t come any closer.
Leanne Merchant, Krista Robarge, and Jennifer Martin homered in the win. Merchant’s home run over the left field fence got Fisher on the board, and Martin’s first career homer rounded out the first inning of scoring as the freshman drove Jessica D’Angelo in with her.
Robarge’s home run to left field capped off the Cardinals’ scoring in game one as Fisher tacked on a security run in the top of the seventh.
Six different players recorded multiple hits for the Cardinals. Merchant led, going 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBI, while senior Jamie Harmon went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
Danielle Leone earned the win on the mound, scattering seven hits and fanning four batters. The sophomore improved to 10-3 on the season with the victory.
Game two:
Fisher 10, Utica 0
The bats continued swinging in the nightcap, as Fisher recorded 14 hits and ran past the Pioneers yet again.
Junior Jennifer Vanek led Fisher, going 4-for-5 from the plate with three runs scored and one RBI. Harmon went 3-for-4, including a home run to right center, adding two runs scored and a team-best three RBI. Sophomore Sarah Fordyce made her only at bat a good one, ripping a home run to left field in the top of the seventh.
Pitcher Sarah Stefanon improved to 8-1 on the season, recording her sixth shutout in 11 appearances. The sophomore dispersed seven hits and retired six batters.
The Cardinals, now 22-6 overall, return to action as they host SUNY Cortland in a non-conference double header on Tuesday at Fisher’s softball complex.