Softball | 5/8/2011 11:16:27 AM

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ITHACA, NY - St. John Fisher's Jamie Harmon singled home the go-ahead run with two outs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie, denying the RIT softball team (24-12), its first Empire 8 Softball Championship in 10 years, as the Cardinals (28-12-1) earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Tigers at Kostrinsky Field on Sunday afternoon.  St. John Fisher earns the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Tournament.

RIT will now await a possible at-large selection into the 2011 NCAA Tournament.  The NCAA will air its annual selection show online at ncaa.com at 12 p.m. Monday.

The Tigers advanced to their first Empire 8 Championship contest since 2003.  It was third meeting of the weekend, and fifth of the season between the two squads, with Fisher winning three of the five contests.

In a tremendous pitcher's duel, St. John Fisher's Sarah Stefanon earned the win, allowing six hits and an unearned run, walking three, and striking out four batters.  Senior Carlissa Cole (Alden, NY/Alden) was strong for the Tigers, allowing five hits and two runs, walking two, and striking out two.  The loss snapped Cole's 10-game winning streak, dating back to April 7.  Her last loss, ironically, came against St. John Fisher on April 2.  Cole is now 14-4 this season.

Fisher grabbed the early lead on Leanne Merchant's 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field in the top of the second inning off of Cole.  That homer snapped Cole's scoreless inning streak of 26 1/3 innings, over parts of seven total appearances.

RIT mounted a rally in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Megan O'Connell and Allee Emmi (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) hit consecutive singles with one out.  Emily Courtney (Berlin, CT/Kingswood-Oxford) hit a shot that was snared by the first baseman for the second out.  Shannon McCormick (Auburn, NY/Auburn) hit a ground ball to short that was thrown away, scoring O'Connell to tie the game at 1-1.  Tori Nadow (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill) then lined out to third base to end the inning.

The Cardinals regained the lead right back in their next at bat, as with two out, Kayla Goodberlet doubled to the gap in right centerfield and scored on a single by Harmon.

RIT tried to rally once again with runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, but could not capitalize, as two popouts ended the inning.

After Cole got out of a two-out jam with runners on first and third in the top of the seventh, Emmi led off the bottom of the seventh with a single for RIT.  After an out, McCormick walked, but a strikeout and pop up ended the rally.

RIT out-hit St. John Fisher, 6-5.  Emmi was the lone Tiger to record two hits. 

RIT's 24 wins are the most since they won 28 in 2003.

The loss capped a wild weekend off softball played by the Tigers, who completed their fifth game in just over 48 hours.

On Friday, RIT, the second seed, lost to third-seeded St. John Fisher, 6-3, while fourth-seeded Stevens lost to top-seed Ithaca, 4-3 in 13 innings.  RIT then eliminated Stevens, 10-0, while St. John Fisher defeated Ithaca 2-0.  On Saturday, RIT eliminated the top-seeded Bombers, winning 1-0.  The Tigers advanced to today's winner-take-all championship game by slamming a season-high 18 hits in an 8-4 win over St. John Fisher in game six of the tournament.