Softball | 5/23/2021 2:51:00 PM
ERIE, PA – In a battle of two of the country's top teams, the No. 16 St. John Fisher College softball team had its season ended at the hands of the No. 14 University of Rochester Yellowjackets, 3-1, on Sunday in the NCAA Division III Regional Championship at Penn State Behrend. With the loss, Fisher's season came to an end at 31-7 while the Yellowjackets improved to 35-8 overall and advanced to the Division III World Series at Moyer Park in Salem, Va.
After a scoreless first inning of play, Fisher took an early lead as Rachel Evans led off the frame with a deep home run that cleared the left field fence to stake the Cardinals to a one-run advantage.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as a leadoff walk and an infield error came around to bite Fisher after Rochester plated two runs to jump ahead, 2-1.
In the top of the fourth, Fisher had the leadoff hitter on when Abby Flakus singled through the left side. Allison Rogowski moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but the Yellowjackets shut down the Cardinals' rally with back-to-back pop ups to preserve the 2-1 lead heading to the home half of the inning.
After escaping the top of the fourth without harm, Rochester started the bottom of the frame with a walk and promptly moved around the bases with a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. With a runner at third and one down, Fisher looked to wiggle out of trouble after inducing a grounder to third, but couldn't come up with the tag at home as Rochester's lead grew to two runs, 3-1.
The Cardinals looked to make their move in the top of the sixth as Evans and Rogowski lined back-to-back singles and moved up a bag following a wild pitch. With the tying runs on the bases and one out showing on the scoreboard, Fisher was in position to chip away at the Rochester lead, but the Yellowjackets came up with a line drive out to center and a groundout to the pitcher to hold Fisher at bay.
Down to its final three outs, Fisher was able to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but could not connect for a key hit as the Yellowjackets held on for the win despite being out-hit.
Jess Patterson (16-4) was the losing pitcher after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits over four innings. Emily Trotman tossed the final two innings and scattered just two hits.
Evans went 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI and a run scored while Maria Marcera, Sammie Torlish, Allie Klonowski, Maddie Klidonas, Rogowski and Flakus each had one hit to their credit.
Earlier in the day, the Cardinals advanced to the NCAA Regional Final after rallying with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to knock off York (PA), 6-4. Down to its final three outs and facing a one-run gap, Fisher responded as Trotman worked a leadoff walk before Megan Kreger kept the team's hopes alive with a two-out single to center. With two on and two away, Klonowski tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI-single to the Spartans' shortstop while Evans hit a two-run double to deep right center that made it 6-4.
Trotman, Evans, Marcera were each named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the 10-game Regional.