Softball | 5/21/2021 3:15:00 PM
ERIE, PA – The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College softball team overcame a six-run deficit en route to a 10-6 win over sixth-seeded York College of Pennsylvania on Friday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Championship at Penn State Behrend. With the win, Fisher, which is ranked 16th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association, moved to 29-5 on the season while the Spartans fell to 18-10.
Fisher has advanced to the winner's bracket where it will take on the losing team between the University of Rochester and Penn State Behrend at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
After falling behind by six runs through two innings of play, the Cardinals got on the board in the home half of the second when Rachel Evans drew a walk and came around to score on a double by Allison Rogowski.
The Cardinals continued to hit in the next inning and pulled to within one after scoring four more runs on four hits to make it 6-5.
Senior Emily Trotman, who was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year earlier in this month, got the inning going with a leadoff double before Maria Marcera singled with Trotman scoring on the play. Megan Kreger kept the rally going with an RBI-double while Allie Klonowski reached after being hit by a pitch. With two on and two away, Abby Flakus plated a pair with a double down the right field line before York could retire the side with a one-run lead intact.
Following a scoreless top of the fourth, Fisher scored the tying run in the bottom of the frame with Sammie Torlish clubbing a double down the left field line that pushed Marcera across home plate.
Fisher blew things wide open in the fifth with four more runs on three hits including two-run hits from Rogowski and Trotman to hold a four-run lead heading to the sixth.
Jess Patterson struggled early, but recovered for Fisher to move to 15-2 on the year. The sophomore went the distance and allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits as she finished with six strikeouts.
The Cardinals had 11 hits in the win led by Rogowski who was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI. Marcera had three hits on the day and scored a run while Trotman was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.