St. John Fisher Picked to Win Third Straight Empire 8 Softball Title

St. John Fisher College, which has captured each of the past two conference tournaments, was chosen to take the title again in the Empire 8 Softball Preseason Coaches Poll.  The Cardinals, who entered the tournament as the second seed last year and have defeated perennial champion Ithaca College in the finals each of the past two years, split the first-place votes with the Bombers. ...Read More >>

Ithaca Softball Team Owns Nation's Eighth-Highest Grade Point Average

The Ithaca softball team earned All-Academic Team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) after ranking eighth among 411 Division III teams. The Bombers, under Coach Deb Pallozzi, posted a cumulative GPA of 3.458 for the 2008-09 academic year.

Becky May Named RIT Softball Head Coach

Lou Spiotti, Director of the Center for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation at RIT, announced the appointment of former Tiger standout Becky May as head coach of RIT’s softball program on Monday. “We are thrilled to have Becky join us as our new head softball coach,” said Spiotti. “She will bring a unique blend of experiences and skills to this job.” May was the assistant softball coach at Nazareth College for the past three seasons where she helped start the program.  ...Read More >>

Empire 8 Announces 2009 Softball All-Conference Team

Senior pitcher Amanda Shevchuk of conference champion St. John Fisher College, who was named Empire 8 Softball Championship Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row, was honored as Pitcher of the Year as the Empire 8 announced its Softball All-Conference Team.  Junior Karen Folts of Alfred University and sophomore Brittany Lillie of Ithaca College shared the Player of the Year award. ...Read More >>

St. John Fisher Edges Ithaca 1-0 to Capture Second Consecutive Empire 8 Softball Championship

Tournament Most Valuable Player Amanda Shevchuk threw eight scoreless innings, yielding only four hits, and Samantha Vara singled in pinch-runner Jenn Vanek with the winning run in a 1-0 St. John Fisher College victory over host Ithaca College in the final game of the Empire 8 Softball Championship. The Cardinals won their second consecutive conference title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. ...Read More >>

Ithaca Holds Off St. John Fisher 2-1 to Force Another Game in Empire 8 Softball Championship Final

Kerry Barger and Annmarie Forenza each singled in runs and Alyssa Brook stranded runners at second and third base in the seventh inning to seal a 2-1 Ithaca College victory over St. John Fisher College in the Empire 8 Softball Championship. The teams will meet in a deciding second game in the finals for the third consecutive year.

Ithaca Defeats RIT 4-1 to Advance to Final of Empire 8 Softball Championship

Alyssa Brook threw a four-hitter and allowed one unearned run as top-seeded Ithaca College defeated Rochester Institute of Technology 4-1 to move into the final of the Empire 8 Softball Championship against St. John Fisher College. Brook did not walk a batter and struck out nine.

St. John Fisher Advances to Empire 8 Softball Championship Final With 4-1 Win over RIT

Lauren O'Brien went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI to lead second-seeded St. John Fisher College to a 4-1 win over fourth-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology and give the Cardinals a spot in the Empire 8 Softball Championship tournament final. Amanda Shevchuk tossed a four-hit complete game with five strikeouts for the win.

Fourth-Seeded RIT Outlasts Top-Seeded Ithaca 1-0 in 16 Innings in Empire 8 Softball Championship

Carlissa Cole threw 16 scoreless innings and Lisa Fronczak scored the winning run with two outs in the top of the 16th inningto lift the No. 4 RIT softball team (19-16) to a dramatic, 1-0 win over top-seed Ithaca (24-15) in opening round action of the Empire 8 Tournament on Friday afternoon.  The 16-inning contest is the longest game in program history. ...Read More >>

Second-Seeded Defending Champion St. John Fisher Defeats Third-Seeded Alfred 3-2 in 11 Innings in Opener of Empire 8 Softball Championship

Kelly Jones came through with a clutch RBI single in the 11th inning to give the No. 2 St. John Fisher College softball team (28-9) a 3-2 win over third-seeded Alfred University in the opening game of the Empire 8 Softball Championship. ...Read More >>

Ithaca Hosts Empire 8 Softball Championship This Weekend

Ithaca College (10-2 league, 23-13 overall) earned the top seed and will host the Empire 8 Softball Championship.  The double elimination tournament will be held Friday and Saturday with Sunday as a rain date if needed.  The tournament opens with second-seeded and defending conference champion St. John Fisher (9-3, 27-9) facing third-seeded Alfred (7-5, 23-5) at 10 a.m. Friday.  The Bombers begin play at noon against fourth-seeded RIT (6-6, 16-16). ...Read More >>