Alfred and St. John Fisher Earn Day One Wins at 2023 Empire 8 Softball Tournament

Softball | 5/11/2023 4:07:53 PM

Top-seed Alfred University (25-12-1) and No. 2 seed St. John Fisher University (26-11) won their opening games of the double elimination 2023 Empire 8 Softball Tournament from Alfred's Harrington Field on Thursday, May 11. St. John Fisher defeated No. 3 Russell Sage (20-17) 9-1 in five innings the opener, while Alfred defeated No. 5 seed Elmira College (20-18), 6-0 in the nightcap.

St. John Fisher and Alfred will meet in the winner's bracket game three at 10 a.m. on Friday. The winner of that game will advance to the championship round, which is scheduled to be played on Saturday, May 13. Russell Sage and Elmira will meet at 12:30 p.m. Friday in game four, which will also serve as an elimination game. The losing team of game three and winning team from game four will meet in a second elimination game 5 at 3 p.m. Friday

The complete tournament schedule is below, as all games will be played at Alfred.

GAME 1 - NO. 2 ST. JOHN FISHER 9, NO. 3 RUSSELL SAGE 1 (5 INNINGS)
The No. 2 Cardinals sent 13 batters to the plate and exploded for eight first inning runs, setting the tone in a 9-1 win over Russell Sage to begin tourament play on Thursday afternoon.

Madi Rose led off and and prompltly stole second before Tori LoPresto reached on an infield single. Rose scored on an infield single bunt by Boegel, as the throw trying to get Boegel at first was thrown away. After a pop-up, a second Russell Sage error allowed LoPresto to score, making it 2-0. Allie Klonowski drove in Boegel with a single to right field, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Kelly Cournoyer continued the first inning carousel, sending a single to right field, scoring a pair of runs to up the lead to 5-0. After a flyout, Cassidy Evanetski and Rose singled to load the bases once again. LoPresto was hit by a pitch to force in the sixth run, while Boegel singled in two more runs to complete the frame.

Jess Patterson earned the start and shut the Gators down for three perfect innings, striking out four batters, while facing just nine hitters. Ainsley Evanetski pitched the final two innings, allowing three hits and a run.

Taylor Dicranian recorded an RBI double for the Gators. Arianna Papas and Ciana Santana had the other Russell Sage hits.

Boegel was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs to lead the St. John  Fisher offense. Cournoyer was 2-for-3 with three RBI.

GAME 2 - NO. 1 ALFRED 6, NO. 5 ELMIRA 0
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) threw her second no-hitter of the season as she struck out 10 Soaring Eagles batters and walked two.to lead Alfredto the 6-0 win over Elmira in game two Thursday,

"We made some mental error mistakes that we will need to clean up moving forward but a great effort from Arden today and I am so proud of her," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We had some timely hits and our short game worked well today. Great all-around performance and we are looking forward to a great matchup with Fisher tomorrow!"
 
The Saxon bats totaled nine hits and five earned runs, led by Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) as she was 3-for-3 with two runs. Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) added two runs and an RBI while Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) went 2-for-3 with a run.
 
On the bases, the Saxons totaled five stolen bases, led by Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) with two. Wells, Remm and Carrillo all had one steal each. No Elmira player reached second base in the game.
 
Remm was credited with the game-winning run in the bottom of the first, scoring on a single up the middle by Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley). The score remained 1-0 in favor of AU until the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Saxons scored twice in the inning, first as Carrillo, after putting down a single bunt, advanced to second during the next at-bat. Wells hit a shot to left field where it was dropped by the Soaring Eagles' left fielder, Hannah Flagg, giving Carrillo time to get from second to third, and then home for the 2-0 lead. Lugo drove a shot to left center field to score Wells for the only unearned run of the game and the 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, AU tacked on three more insurance runs. Wells walked with Carrillo on third and with some crafty base-running, rounded first, forcing a throw to second, which then came back to home as Carrillo was called safe due to fielder obstruction at home by the catcher. Wells was then safe at third on the same play. She then made it a 5-0 lead when she scored on a wild pitch. Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) flew out to center field, giving Lugo time to tag up and score from third base for the 6-0 lead and win.
 
Hatch closed out the game with a first batter strike out looking, a ground out to Lugo at shortstop and then another strike out looking.

Looking ahead to Friday, Alfred swept a doubleheader over St. John Fisher on back-to-back walk-offs during the regular season, while Russell Sage and Elmira split a pair of games. Action begins at 10 a.m. Friday.