Fisher Swept by Nationally-Ranked Emory in Season Opener
The St. John Fisher College softball team was swept by No. 13 Emory University in its season opening games in Atlanta, GA. Fisher fell 1-0 in the first game and was again held scoreless in game two, going down 2-0. The Cardinals fall to 0-2 with the losses while Emory remains undefeated at 19-0.
Game One: Emory 1, Fisher 0
In the second inning, the Eagles had an opportunity to get on the board after loading the bases with only one out. But pitcher Danielle Leone sent the next batter down swinging then forced the next to ground out, ending the inning unscathed.
However, the Eagles would strike in the following inning when Megan Light doubled to left field, scoring her teammate from second. Meghan Burns made an effort to throw the runner out at the plate, but the Eagle runner was able to dodge around Leanne Merchant’s glove and avoid the tag.
That would be the only run scored in the contest, as Fisher was only able to tally one hit in the game. The Cardinals made solid contract throughout, but they could not generate base runners.
Merchant, who led Fisher with 11 homeruns last season, made an effort to tie the game as the final batter but her hit to straight-away center was just short of clearing the wall and was instead caught by the center fielder.
Sarah Fordyce picked up the only Fisher hit, while Leone finished with three strikeouts, three hits and one walk.
Game Two: Emory 2, Fisher 0
The second game, like the first was another tight battle between the two teams. This one, however, was heavier on the hitting but stellar defense by both teams kept it close.
Fisher and pitcher Sarah Stefanon had to work out of a couple jams early on. The Eagles opened the second inning with two-straight runners, who were advanced to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt. But Stefanon sent the next two down before the home team could score.
The Cardinals faced a similar situation in the third, this time with the bases loaded, but a ground out closed the inning.
The Cardinals had a great opportunity to get on the board in the fourth inning after Fordyce doubled to center field with one out. That hit was followed by a two-base knock from Jessica D’Angelo, but Fordyce was tagged at the plate to keep the game at 0-0. D’Angelo moved to third base on the throw, but Fisher couldn’t come up with a two-out hit.
Emory eventually broke the tie in the fifth inning when Natalie McLaughlin, who reached on a double, scored with two outs. The Eagles then added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Emory’s first two batters of that inning reached on a hit by pitch and walk, sending Lauren Wesolowski out to replace Stefanon. The sophomore reliever managed to keep the harm to one run, but Fisher was unable to respond in the final frame.
The game ended in identical fashion as the first, with Merchant hitting a boomer to center field that was just short of clearing the fence.
Fordyce led Fisher with two hits, while Kate Disbrow, Lauren Owens, Burns and D’Angelo all had one hit. Stefanon ended with three strikeouts, while Wesolowski sent one down swinging .
Fisher will return to action on Wednesday when it faces LaGrange College in a doubleheader. Game one is slated to start at 5 p.m.