Box Score St. John Fisher College 3, Utica College 1 - Empire 8 Softball Tournament Winners Bracket

Utica, NY (5/3/13)- The Utica College softball team gave up three unanswered home runs to fall to visiting St. John Fisher College 3-1 Friday night in the second game of the Empire 8 Tournament.  UC will now take on Elmira at 11 a.m. Saturday with the winner advancing to the championship against Fisher.

Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) broke the deadlock in the third inning with a solo home run to center field to give UC a 1-0 lead.  Matan's knock was her third of the year.  The Cardinals rebounded in the bottom of the inning as Krista Robarge hit one over the fence.

Neither team allowed a run over the next two innings, however back-to-back home runs by St. John Fisher's Kayla Goodberlet and Jessie Smyrski in the bottom of the sixth put the Cardinals up 3-1.  Senior Sarah Stefanon and the Fisher defense retired the side to move onto the championship round.

Matan was 2-for-3, while Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), and Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) each added one hit.  Freshman Erica Colucci (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) allowed six hits in five innings of work, while sophomore Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) struck out one and allowed just one hit in one inning of work.

Megan Burns and Leanne Merchant also added to the Fisher offense, as they both were 2-for-3 in the game.  Stefanon was once again impressive in the circle, striking out four and allowing six hits in seven innings.

Both teams move to 31-11 on the year.  St. John Fisher will take on the winner of the Elmira-Utica game at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the possibility of the Championship game Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.


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