Fisher Opens Tournament Play with 2-0 Win Over Alfred
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Fourth-seeded St. John Fisher College opened Empire 8 tournament play with a 2-0 shutout victory over top-seeded Alfred University on Friday afternoon. Fisher advanced in the winner's bracket of the E8 tournament and will play against second-seeded Ithaca later Friday afternoon. Alfred will face Stevens Institute of Technology at 2:30pm in an elminiation game.
Fisher freshman
Lindsey Thayer shut down nationally-ranked Alfred, limiting the No. 18 Saxons to five hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in a complete-game effort. It also marked the first time this season that Alfred was shut out.
Fisher struck first as
Katie Mazierski singled up the middle to score
Danielle Ventrone. The freshman infielder singled to left field then advanced to second as the ball dropped just under Alfred's Shannon Schaefer's glove and rolled past her.
Fisher held onto its one-run lead through the fifth inning when the Cardinals added another run.
Kristina Balsano hit a liner past diving shortstop Nicole Maher to start the offense. Mazierski laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached first base as Alfred got the lead runner in Balsano.
Jennifer Knaak and
Meghan Burns strung together hits to bring in Mazierski.
In the bottom half of the inning, Alfred poked two singles through the left side to put runners on first and second base with one out. Thayer ended the threat with back-to-back strikeouts.
Burns went 2-for-3 with a RBI to lead the offense. Knaak, Balsano and
Kate Disbrow added two hits apiece.
Alfred freshman outfielder Shannon Schaefer was 2-for-3 for AU. Junior shortstop Nicole Maher hit a double and senior outfielder Alyson Hampton was 1-for-3.
Alison Wickwire took the loss in the circle as she allowed 10 hits with one walk, while striking out two batters.