Fordyce's Walk-Off Homer Provides a Split with Rochester
The St. John Fisher College softball team split a doubleheader with University of Rochester on Wednesday evening on the Cardinals' campus. Fisher earned the split when Sarah Fordyce hit a walk-off home run in the second game to avoid the Rochester sweep. With the split, Fisher moves to 5-7 on the year while the Yellowjackets go to 2-12.
Game One: Rochester 7, Fisher 4
Rochester scored two runs in the first, second and fourth innings on its way to a 7-4 victory over the Cardinals.
Fisher had some opportunities but could never close the gap to closer than three runs. Danielle Leone got the loss after starting and going 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and six runs, four of which were earned, while striking out three.
Lauren Wesolowski relieved Leone and was shut down in 3.2 innings of work. She gave up just three hits and run which was unearned while fanning four Rochester hitters.
Fisher’s defense committed seven errors that led to three total unearned runs, which was the Yellowjackets margin of victory.
At the dish, Kayla Goodberlet led the way with the only Cardinal multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Meghan Burns and Jennifer Knaak also scored while Leanne Merchant, Jessica D’Angelo and Krista Robarge each had a hit. D’Angelo also drove in a run.
Game Two: Fisher 7, Rochester 5
Fordyce came to the plate after Merchant, the potential winning run, was intentionally walked with Goodberlet on second base. Fordyce, facing a 1-2 count, drilled the next pitch over the right centerfield fence for the three-run, walk-off homer to earn a Cardinals win.
Fisher had a lead entering the top of the seventh inning, but a deep ball off the fence and an error, Rochester took the lead at 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
With one out in the seventh, Goodberlet scorched a double into left center before Merchant was walked.
Sarah Stefanon earned the complete-game win, striking out 10 batters while only allowing two earned runs on eight hits. The pitcher started the game by retiring the first 10 Yellowjackets she faced.
Goodberlet, Merchant, Fordyce and Kate Disbrow each finished with two hits. Goodberlet scored three times, including the first run of the game with a solo shot in the first inning. Fordyce finished with four RBI, including three on the game-winner while Merchant drove two runs in while scoring once.
Fisher will return to action at 1 p.m. on Thursday when it hosts Medaille College in a nonconference matchup.