Fisher Blanks Ithaca to Earn Spot in E8 Title Game
ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball team took down top-seeded Ithaca College, 4-0, on Saturday in the Empire 8 Championship at Doris Kostrinsky Field. With the win, Fisher, which is ranked sixth in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll, moved to 35-5 with the win while the No. 21 Bombers fell to 29-9 overall.
Fisher, which has now won 16 straight games, will play for the Empire 8 Championship and the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Softball Championship at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Lindsey Thayer was nearly unhittable as the junior pitcher moved to 22-4 with the win after throwing seven scoreless innings. Thayer allowed just one hit, which came in the seventh inning, and struck out 15 overall.
Neither team was able to break through until the top of the fifth inning when Fisher scored one run despite not coming up with a hit.
Emma Savas drew a walk to lead off the frame and worked her way to third base after
Kristina Balsano moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. The Bombers recorded the out at first and then tried to nail Savas at third, but the throw sailed into the outfield allowing her to advance home to break the tie.
In the top of the sixth inning, Fisher added three more runs to open up a four-run lead.
Ashley Prince led off and smacked the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a solo home run and a 2-0 advantage. The next hitter,
Sarah Kubik, walked before being replaced at first by
Karlie Neale with a fielder's choice. Neale later moved into scoring position when
Genevieve Paeglow worked a four-pitch walk.
Danielle Ventrone came up with a big hit after smacking an RBI-single to right that plated
Alyssa Piparo who had entered as a pinch runner for Neale. As the inning continued, Fisher would score another run when Savas laid down a bunt while Paeglow came around to score to make it 4-0 in the Cardinals' favor.
Fisher managed just four hits in the win but worked the count all game as the Cardinals drew six walks in all.
Katie Mazierski, Prince, Neale and Ventrone had one hit apiece.