Softball | 5/9/2024 7:31:18 PM
Top-seed St. John Fisher University (31-4) and No. 3 seed Utica University (21-13) won their opening games of the double elimination 2024 Empire 8 Softball Tournament from St. John Fisher on Thursday, May 9. Utica defeated No. 2 seed Alfred University (26-13), 9-7 in the opening game, while the Cardinals defeated No. 4 Russell Sage (13-23) 7-2 in the nightcap.
St. John Fisher and Utica 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 11. Alfred and Russell Sage 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 St. John Fisher's Softball Complex.
GAME 1 - NO. 3 UTICA 9, NO. 2 ALFRED 7
The No. 3 seed Pioneers scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally from a 5-4 deficit to defeat No. 2 Alfred, 9-7 to begin tournament play on Thursday afternoon.
Utica led 4-0 before the Saxons rallied with a run in the third, one in the fifth and three in the sixth on back-to-back home runs by Meghan Neto and Paris Guzman.
The Pioneers would rally in the seventh, as Emily Joss walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Frankie Luster. Maddie Zulager reached on a bloop single to right field, moving Joss to third. Jennifer Rodriguez ripped a single to right field, scoring both runners to give Utica a 6-5 lead. Abigail Sacks and Rachel Little singled, the latter driving in Rodriguez to make it 7-5. Erica Sanford hit a long triple to drive in two more runs to give Utica a 9-5 lead.
Alfred responded in the ninth with two runs on a long double off the left field wall by Neto to cut the lead to 9-7. The Saxons had the winning runs on base later in the inning before Delaney Prather lined out to first to end the rally.
Utica out-hit Alfred, 13-8. Rodriguez led the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Zulager was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Little and Taylor Kraft had two hits apiece.
Jordyn Conte started on the mound for Utica, allowing five hits and three runs with four strikeouts in five-plus innings. Kylie Murray would pick up the win in relief with three strikeouts over the final two innings.
Neto was 2-for-4 with a home run, double and four RBIs for the Saxons, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. Samantha Vidal had two hits and a run scored, while Jessica Remm reached base twice, doubled, scored and drove in a run. Megan Bennett suffered the loss on the mound for Alfred, falling to 19-5 on the season.
GAME 2 - NO. 1 ST. JOHN FISHER 7, NO. 4 RUSSELL SAGE 2
Top-seed St. John Fisher extended its winning streak to 21 games after defeating No. 4 Russell Sage, 7-2 in game two of the Empire 8 Tournament on Thursday afternoon.
The Cardinals spotted Russell Sage a 1-0 lead before scoring twice in the first inning. The Gators tied the game in the fourth inning, before Fisher scored three times in the bottom of the inning and twice more in the fifth inning.
Kelly Cournoyer hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to break the 2-2 tie, while Emma MacLachlan hit a two-run homer in the fifth.
St. John Fisher out-hit Russell Sage, 10-6. Maddie Rose was 3-for-4 with a run scored, stolen base and RBI, while MacLachlan had two hits. Maddie Donlin reached base twice, scored a run and drove in one, while Taylor Shackleton hit a two-run double.
Cassidy Ormond earned her 16th win of the season on the mound for St. John Fisher, scattering five hits and allowing two runs, while striking out four batters in five innings. Ainsley Evanetski allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of batters over two scoreless innings of relief.
Annalise Tyler and Isabella Vano each went 1-for-3 with a run scored for Russell Sage, while Allison Kenyon had two hits. Leah Madore took the loss on the mound for the Gators in a complete-game effort.
Looking ahead to Friday, St. John Fisher swept a doubleheader over Utica last Saturday, while Alfred swept Russell Sage earlier in the season. Action begins at 10 a.m. Friday.
2024 Empire 8 Softball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 7 (First Round at Russell Sage)
No. 4 Russell Sage defeated No. 5 Keuka, 5-0 – BOX SCORE
All Games at St. John Fisher
Thursday, May 9
Game 1 – No. 3 Utica defeated No. 2 Alfred, 9-7 – BOX SCORE
Game 2 – No. 1 St. John Fisher defeating No. 4 Russell Sage, 7-2 – BOX SCORE
Friday, May 10
Game 3 – No. 3 Utica at No. 1 St. John Fisher – 10 am – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Game 4 – No. 2 Alfred vs. No. 4 Russell Sage – (elimination game) – 12:30 pm – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – (elimination game) – 3 pm – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Saturday, May 11
Game 6 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 – 12 pm – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
Game 7 – If Necessary – 2:30 pm – VIDEO/LIVE STATS
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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