Simmons becomes all-time hits leader as Nazareth Softball drops two at Fisher

Courtesy of NazAthletics.com

ROCHESTER, NY – Graduate student Sarah Simmons became the all-time hits leader at Nazareth with 149 as the Golden Flyers fell in a pair of contests at St. John Fisher on Wednesday. Nazareth was no-hit in the opening game, falling 10-0 in five innings, before losing a hard fought 4-3 contest in the night cap.

Nazareth falls to 12-14 on the year and 6-6 in league play with the losses, while Fisher moves to 22-10 and 9-3, respectively.

The hits record was previously held by Marissa Tortora who accumulated 148 hits from 2016-2019.

Nazareth returns to action on Sunday, hosting Medaille at 1 and 3 p.m.

Game 1 – St John Fisher 10, Nazareth 0 (5 inning)
The Golden Flyers were stymied at the plate in game one, unable to generate a hit as Fisher won 10-0 in five innings.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the second, three in the third, and five in the fourth inning. The largest damage came on a grand slam in the fourth to make the score 10-0.

Emily Daciw started on the mound, going 3.1 innings, surrendering six hits, 10 runs (eight earned), while striking out three. Brooke Hailston closed out the final 2/3 inning. Daciw is now 9-5 on the season.

St. John Fisher senior Jess Patterson shut down all 15 batters faced, striking out seven.

Game 2 – St. John Fisher 4, Nazareth 3
After trailing 3-0  three innings, the Golden Flyers scored three unanswered runs to even the score.

Simmons record-tying at-bat came in the fourth inning as she hit a triple with one out to get into scoring position. Freshman Maddy Spakoski then singled to right field as the very next batter to bring Nazareth within 3-1. Spakoski and Simmons each finished the game 2-for-3.

With the score still 3-1 in the sixth, Simmons delivered a two-out single to put runners on first and third. That at-bat proved to be the record-breaking hit for the Victor, NY native. Spaskoski then delivered once again with a double and Simmons came all the way around from first to tie the game at three apiece.

After an empty top-half for Nazareth in the seventh, senior Hailie Bennett mowed down the first two batters before a walk-off homer to left ended the contest. Bennett allowed nine hits and four runs, while striking out two.

Justine Brooks had the other hit for Nazareth in the game.