Empire 8 Play of the Week

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team (10-6, 2-0 Empire 8) swept Nazareth College 3-2 and 9-1 (five innings) in an Empire 8 doubleheader on Saturday afternoon on Harrington Field.
 
The Saxons opened up conference play with two wins over Nazareth College at home on Saturday. Senior Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and sophomore Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) earned wins in the circle during their respective outings.
 
Sophomore Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) provided the bat in the first game, recording two RBI's en route to the 3-2 win. Senior Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech) notched five hits over the two games, including three in the opener. Junior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) had three hits and five RBI's on the day, including a three-run homer in the nightcap.
 
"Anytime you get a conference sweep, it's good," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Naz is a young team, but they're scrappy and they're well-coached so we're happy to take two today. The girls hit the ball even though we were a little flat in game one and then we came out and hit the ball better in the second game to give our pitcher some run support to make things easier."
 
Game One
 
Naz was the first team on the board in the opening inning, taking the lead 1-0. However, AU answered back in the second inning following a bunt single from Murray, getting Powers across the plate. Murray went on to steal second before first year Brenna Alvis (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa) singled to left and Murray capitalized on a botched throw to take the lead for AU.
 
The Saxons expanded their lead in the fourth inning after sophomore Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) earned a lead-off walk and worked her way around to third on a hit by Powers. Murray batted her in, giving AU the 3-1 lead. Naz scored during their final at-bat in the seventh inning, but it was to no avail.
 
Schaefer pitched 7.0 innings, earning three strikeouts while giving up eight hits, two walks and one earned run.
 
Game Two
 
The Saxons wasted no time getting on the board in the second game of the doubleheader with Krawczyk providing the power. She went yard on a low-inside pitch with two teammates on, giving AU the lead, 3-0. Powers extended the lead in the bottom of the third with a solo home run.
 
The Golden Flyers saw some life in the top of the fifth inning but were quickly shut down. The Saxons put an end to the game in the bottom of the fifth, putting five runs across the plate in rapid succession to earn the win. Krawczyk stayed hot when she doubled with the bases juiced, increasing the lead 6-1. The next batter, Lea Georgatos (Emerson, NJ/Immaculate Conception), pushed two more Saxons across the plate before first year Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) put the game away, 9-1, on a pinch hit single to left field, earning her first career RBI.
 
"We have 15 players on this team that all know that can get called on at any given time and they came in big," Coach Wesneski added. "Shannon [Schaefer] drew a walk to load the bases and then Lu [Krawczyk] and Lea [Georgatos] had a couple of big hits while our runners were being aggressive on the bases, so we were able to sneak a few out. Then when we had Moreta [Dyke] come in and get the final hit of the game, that was big for her and big for us. We're looking forward to getting back to it and playing on Monday."
 
Wilcox went the distance in the game, earning her fourth win of the year behind six strikeouts, three hits allowed and one earned run.
 
The Saxons return to the field on Monday, April 2^nd to take on Clarkson University at 3:30 PM on Harrington Field. This is a nonconference makeup game from Friday evening.