PITTSFORD, NY – The Alfred University softball team lost both ends of an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Nazareth College Friday evening.
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The Saxons lost the opener, 3-2, and dropped the nightcap, 2-1, to fall to 13-13 overall and 5-5 in conference play. AU senior third baseman
Liz Thompson (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) had three hits in the doubleheader, bringing her career total to 178, which ties the a school's all-time record.
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In the opener, Naz took an early lead with a run in the first. Alfred knotted the score with a single run in the fourth, as Thompson walked, moved to second on a sacrifice, stole third and came in to score on an error.
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After the hosts scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead, the Saxons cut their deficit to one with a run in the sixth. Thompson singled with one out, stole second and came in to score on a single by junior shortstop
Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech).
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AU was held to three hits the game: singles by Thompson, Powers and senior outfielder
Hannah Lawrence (Spencer, NY/Spencer-Van Etten). Junior pitcher
Kerri Keeler (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-DeWitt) took the complete-game loss for the Saxons, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and striking out five to fall to 3-7 on the year.
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The nightcap was scoreless through five innings before Nazareth plated the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth. AU had runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh but couldn't push the tying run across.
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First-year pitcher
Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) dropped a tough decision for the Saxons, allowing an earned run on four hits and striking out a pair in six innings to drop to 2-2 on the season.
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Thompson had one hit in three at-bats, a third-inning single that tied the school record for career hits (178) set by
Nicole Maher (2013-16). Senior outfielder
Brooke Hockeborn (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) had two hits for AU, while first-year second baseman
Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) and senior first baseman
Sophia Chiavatti (Tustin, CA/Foothill) each had one.
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AU is in action next on Tuesday, April 18, at 3 p.m., when the Saxons play a non-league doubleheader at Lycoming.
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