Fisher Advances To Super Regional Round Of NCAAs
The St. John Fisher College softball team pulled together two wins over the University of Rochester, overcoming early deficits in both games that ended in walk-off fashion to claim the NCAA Division III Softball Regional title on Saturday.
With the win, Fisher guaranteed a spot in the Super Regional tournament next weekend, and will find out their seeding on Sunday.
Fisher placed five players on the All-Tournament team, and sophomore pitcher
Lindsey Thayer was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after gaining both wins over Rochester, and pitching a victory the day before over Penn State-Behrend. Thayer totaled 27 strikeouts in two games against Rochester, and 14 against Behrend. The Cardinals honored to the All-Tournament team were
Jennifer Knaak,
Lauren Owens,
Danielle Ventrone,
Katie Mazierski, and
Sarah Kubik.
Fisher will advance to the Super Regioal Round of the NCAA tournament, and will take on the winner of The College of New Jersey versus Manhattanville College in the four-team regional hosted by TCNJ.
Fisher 2, Rochester 1
Fisher rallied to a 2-1 extra inning victory in game one after a walk-off single from Mazierski in the 10
th inning.
The Yellowjackets put a single run on the board with the bases loaded in the first, but would not reach home plate the remainder of the game.
Fisher tied the game up at 1-1 in the fourth on a solo home run from Knaak, and the game would remain tied for the next five innings as the teams went into extras.
The bottom of the 10
th inning Fisher based Ventrone and
Kristina Balsano, as Mazierski clinched game one with a walk-off RBI single, scoring Ventrone.
Thayer tabbed 12 strikeouts while only allowing two hits in the contest.
Fisher 3, Rochester 2
Sarah Kubik came up clutch in the 8
th inning with a walk-off RBI single to seal a 3-2 victory and the Regional title in game two over Rochester.
The Yellowjackets were again the first to put runs on the board, scoring two on an RBI double to centerfield in the third inning.
In the top of the fifth Owens put Fisher back in the game with a solo home run to left field, shortening the Rochester lead to 2-1. Kubik would put the tying run across the plate on a single to center, scoring Knaak. The teams would battle for two more innings until Kubik singled again, this time sending Mazierski home for the game-winning run.
Kubik went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Owens went 2-for-3.
Thayer struck out 15 while only allowing 3 hits.