Fisher Powers Past Utica in Winner's Bracket

5/3/2013 8:21:00 PM

Four homeruns were hit in the final game of day one of the Empire 8 Softball Tournament as St. John Fisher College defeated top-seeded Utica College, 3-1 Friday night. 

Both teams move to 31-11 on the year.  Utica will now take on Elmira at 11 am Saturday in an elminiation game with the winner advancing to face Fisher at 1pm in the championship game. Should Fisher lose on Saturday, the winner takes all championship game will be played on Sunday. 

Meghan Matan broke the deadlock in the third inning with a solo home run to center field to give UC a 1-0 lead.  Matan’s knock was her third of the year.  The Cardinals rebounded in the bottom of the inning as Krista Robarge hit one over the fence.

Neither team allowed a run over the next two innings, however back-to-back home runs by St. John Fisher’s Jessie Smyrski and Kayla Goodberlet in the bottom of the sixth put the Cardinals up 3-1.  Senior Sarah Stefanon and the Fisher defense retired the side to move onto the championship round.

Megan Burns and Leanne Merchant also added to the Fisher offense, as they both were 2-for-3 in the game.  Stefanon was once again impressive in the circle, striking out four and allowing six hits in seven innings.

Matan was 2-for-3, while Bridgette Plummer, Courtney Fitzgerald, Alysa Russell, and Cassie Smith each added one hit.  Freshman Erica Colucci allowed six hits in five innings of work, while sophomore Briona Enny struck out one and allowed just one hit in one inning of work.