PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Nazareth's softball team had its five-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday afternoon when the Golden Flyers dropped a pair of conference games at St. John Fisher. Nazareth fell in the opening game 13-2 and lost 10-4 in the nightcap.
Following the losses, the Golden Flyers slip to 15-10 overall and 9-5 in Empire 8 games. With the victories, the Cardinals improve to 23-12 overall and 15-3 in conference contests.
Nazareth Falls 13-2
In the top of the first inning, Nazareth had runners reach second and third, but the Golden Flyers were unable to push a runner across the plate. Morgan Russo started the game with a lead-off double to right center. After Sarah Ferruzza drew a walk, Russo stole third, then Ferruzza stole second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Fisher's pitching kept Nazareth off the board with the third strikeout of the inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Cardinals scored three runs to take the early lead. Fisher added another run in the second before the Golden Flyers put a run on the board in the third. With one out in the third, Russo hit a single to left for her second hit of the game. Kaijah Alexander scored Russo with a two-out double to right center.
Fisher extended its lead to 6-1 with two runs in the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, Russo hit a solo homerun to center field to bring Nazareth within four runs and finished just a triple away from completing the cycle.
The Cardinals ended the game in the fifth inning with seven runs, which culminated in a walk-off grand slam.
Avery Zembek took the loss and falls to 8-4 on the season. She finished with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings and was charged for 10 earned runs. Ashley Bell pitched the final .1 inning and was charged with two earned runs.
Fisher Outscores Golden Flyers 10-4
In the second game, the Golden Flyers scored in the top of the first to take the early lead. Bell reached on a one-out single to third then stole second base. Following a walk by Ferruzza, Haleigh Suitor singled to right center to score Bell and advance Ferruzza to third. Suitor stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but Madison Hicks struck out looking to end the threat.
After Fisher tied the score in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals scored twice in the second to take a temporary lead.
Nazareth responded with a run in the third and fourth innings to tie the game, 3-3. In the third inning, Alexander hit a one-out single to center and advanced to second on the throw. Following a single by Ferruzza, Alexander scored when Ferruzza was caught attempting to steal second. Ferruzza's out ended the inning, but Alexander crossed the plate in time for the run.
In the top of the fourth, Suitor singled to open the inning, then made it all the way home on a single to left center by Hicks. Hicks reached second on a sacrifice by Caitlyn Knapp, but Fisher recorded the next two outs to prevent Nazareth from taking the lead.
The Cardinals scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to break open the game. The inning was capped by a three-run homer from Fisher.
After Fisher hit solo homeruns in the fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead, the Golden Flyers' Hailey Trank opened the seventh inning with a lead-off homer to center field, which cut the final score to 10-4.
Hicks took the loss after starting the game and allowing eight runs, including six earned in 3.1 innings. Her record drops to 4-5 on the season. Zembek pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed two runs, both earned, while striking out one batter.
Nazareth resumes action on Friday, April 25th, when the Golden Flyers host Utica in another Empire 8 double header at 3 and 5 p.m.
