Box Score  
ITHACA, NY -- The Alfred University softball team, fresh off a dramatic come-from-behind win over Utica Saturday at the Empire 8 Conference championship tournament, shut out top-seeded and host Ithaca College, 1-0, setting up a winner-take-all championship game Sunday afternoon.
 
AU and Ithaca will meet at t 1 p.m. Sunday, with the winner earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championship tournament. Just prior to the AU-Ithaca game, third-seeded Alfred faced elimination against fourth-seeded Utica, but rallied to score five runs in the bottom of the seventh, erasing a four-run deficit and winning, 9-8.
 
AU (27-9) and Ithaca were locked in a scoreless battle until the top of the fifth inning, when junior outfielder Alyson Hampton (Oxnard, CA/Oxnard) scored the game's only run. Hampton led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Rachel Guszick (Sparrowbush, NY/Port Jervis). Hampton went to third on a bunt single by sophomore outfielder Samantha Jauregui (Lindsay, CA/Lindsay) and scored when freshman third baseman Liz Thompson (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) reached on an error.
 
The run was all the support AU sophomore pitcher Katelyn Jakobsen (Elmwood Park, IL/Elmwood Park) would need. She held the Bombers to three hits while striking out two and walking three over seven scoreless innings.
 
AU managed six hits off Ithaca starter Sam Bender. Hampton finished 2-for-2 with the game's only run. Jauregui went 2-for-4, while sophomore shortstop Nicole Maher (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) (double) and sophomore second baseman Dana Torchia (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Twp.) each added a base hit.

For a complete tournament schedule and live stats and video links, please visit the Championship Website.