Updated Stats
ROCHESTER, NY – Nationally-ranked St. John Fisher won a tightly contested game one, 3-0 over Nazareth, before exploding for a 21-3 victory in five innings to earn the sweep Friday afternoon.
With the losses, Nazareth drops to 13-11 overall and 6-6 in conference play, while 10th-ranked Fisher moves to 25-5 and 10-2, respectively.
Nazareth returns to action on Saturday, when it travels to Houghton College for a 3 p.m. doubleheader to close out conference play.
Game 1 – Fisher 3, Nazareth 0
Fisher's Lindsey Thayer, arguably the top pitcher in the nation, struck out 21 batters in a dominating game one performance. She faced 30 batters, allowing just three hits and walking two. Fisher had three errors in the game.
Sarah Kubik ripped a two-RBI single in the opening inning to help the visitors open up a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Flyers committed an error in the third and the Cardinals capitalized to take a 3-0 advantage to get all the run support they would need.
Nazareth threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings, however, it left two runners on in each.
Marissa Tortora started the sixth with a single and
Nicole White got aboard with one out. Thayer, however, mowed down the next two to shut down the threat.
White went the distance for Nazareth on the mound, allowing two earned runs on five hits, while striking out two.
Madison Zeis also had a hit in the game for Nazareth.
Game 2 – Fisher 21, Nazareth 3 (5 innings)
After putting together just five hits in first game, the Cardinals batted around the order and had seven hits in the opening inning. The seven hits, coupled with two errors from the Golden Flyers, allowed Fisher to score seven runs to open up the contest.
Rachel Mertens lasted 1 1/3 innings, surrendering eight runs (five earned) on eight hits.
Fisher picked up one run in the second and eight more in the third behind hot bats. The Cardinals finished with 18 hits.
Nazareth was able to muster up two runs in the third.
Sarah Papponetti and Tortora each had RBI singles in the frame.
With the bases loaded in the fourth, Nazareth's
Delaney St. George singled to make the score 18-3. The Golden Flyers left three runners on base in the inning.
White finished 2-for-3 in the loss.
Marissa Hayes went 3 2/3 innings, surrendering 13 runs (8 earned).
