ROCHESTER, N.Y. (April 28, 2019) – The Stevens Institute of Technology softball team split and Empire 8 Conference doubleheader against St. John Fisher College Sunday afternoon at the Cardinals' Softball Complex to win the program's first conference regular season title. 

With the game two victory, the Ducks became the top seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Conference Championships that will be held at Weehawken Waterfront Park as they end the regular season with a 12-2 record in conference play and 20-16 overall. Fisher fell to 23-14 on the year and 12-2 in E8 action. 

Game One (L, 6-1)
Senior Christine LaRochelle (6-10) struck out four batter in her six innings pitched. Emily Trotman (19-7) earned the win after leading the Cardinals in the circle. 

The Cardinals took an early lead in the bottom of the first as Sammie Torlish hit an infield single to send home Julia Sortisio. Junior Samantha Schattin tied the score with an RBI double in the top of the third. 

In the bottom of the inning, Fisher took back the lead when Trotman scored as Abby Flakus reached on a fielder's choice. Jessica Sardina followed with a two-run single to right field, giving the Cardinals a 4-1 edge. 

Ashley Prince and Trotman each recorded RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, to extend the lead and secure the win of game one. 
  
Game Two (W, 6-4)
Senior Marissa Cappello (12-4) recorded 12 strikeouts to earn the win in the circle. Trotman fell to 19-8 despite her six strikeouts in seven innings pitched. 

Junior Melissa Alfonso gave Stevens the lead with her first home run of the season in the top of the second. The Ducks then took a 3-0 advantage in the next inning when senior Katie Tirabassi hit an RBI single and Alfonso registered a sac-fly to bring in freshman Meg Halloran. 

Trotman cut the lead to just one run in the bottom of the third with a two-run homer over the left field fence. Sardina tied the game in the following frame as she singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw to allow Torlish to score. 

The Ducks then took back the lead in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run homer from sophomore Siobhan Cottell for her first home run of the year. The Cardinals answered with a sac-fly from Flakus in the bottom of the inning to shorten Stevens' lead to one. 

Tirabassi put the Ducks up back by two runs in the seventh inning with an infield single before advancing to second on the throw and allowing freshman Lexi Gregule to score on the play. 

Trotman and Price each recorded a base hit in the bottom of the inning to give the Cardinals a chance to tie or score the winning run. However, Sarah Kubik sent a pitch from Cappello out to center field where Schattin grabbed the final out of the day to claim the number one seed heading into the conference tournament. 

From the Dugout

• "I honestly couldn't be more proud of this team. They asked if I was crying, I said no but I totally got teary eyed. They've worked so hard for this, and to end the game on an all-out effort in an all-or-nothing situation, I couldn't ask for more. I'm just so happy for this group for working so hard to earn the number one seed. Now it's time to refocus and build." -head coach Emily Kaczmarek

Inside the Numbers

• Schattin, Halloran and junior Gina DeOliveira each registered a double on the day. 
• Halloran went 4-for-5 at the plate across the two contests. 
• Sophomore Amanda Delorme led the Ducks with two runs scored over the doubleheader. 
• DeOliveira and Alfonso both worked a walk in game two. 

Up Next

• The Ducks return to Weehawken Waterfront Park on Tuesday, April 30 for a non-conference doubleheader against Arcadia at 4 and 6 P.M.

 
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