Box Score | Tournament Page

SCHENECTADY, NY – The Union College softball team concluded the first day of the ECAC Championships with a 8-3 win over St. John Fisher on Saturday at Alexander Field.

Union improves to 31-8 on the year while St. John Fisher falls to 26-19. The second seed Cardinals will face fourth seed Elmira on Sunday at 10 a.m. in an elimination game and the winner faces the top seed Dutchwomen at 12 p.m. If Union loses that game, the teams will play another contest at 2 p.m.

Ashley Kovack went 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs including a first inning two-run home run to left field. Callee Heywood (Innisfail, Alb.) and Hannah Fandl also had three hits, Heywood had an RBI and Fandl drove in two. Ginni Sack struck out five, walked one and allowed one earned run in five innings to earn the win and improved her record to 15-5. Tiffany Ippoliti pitched two innings in relief, striking out three and did not allow any runs, and notched her fourth save.

Six Cardinals each recorded a hit at the plate. Leanne Merchant (Scotia, NY) and Jamie Harmon (South Portland, Maine) both recoredd an RBI. Sarah Stefanon (Perry, NY) struck out three, did not walk a batter and allowed four earned runs but suffered the loss and falls to 9-8.

The Cardinals immediately got on board in the first inning. Jenn Vanek (Smithtown, NY) led off the inning reaching safely to first on a throwing error and Megan Zoerb (Painted Post, NY) reached first base on a walk. Vanek later scored while Carissa Carlson (Little Genesee, NY) grounded out to first. Merchant doubled to left center to score in Zoerb.

Union took the lead in the second inning when Kovack hit a two-out RBI single to score Rebecca Gronzniak. The Dutchwomen made it 4-2 in the fifth on an RBI single by Allie Sirrine. Union added four insurance runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two run single by Fandl.

The Dutchwomen are looking for a fourth straight ECAC Championship, and third at home. Union enters Sunday with an 11 game ECAC winning streak.