KISSIMMEE, FL – The Alfred University softball team opened its 2018 season with a pair of wins over Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Misericordia University on Sunday during its Spring Break Training.

The Saxons (2-0, 0-0 Empire 8) defeated WPI in the first game of the season, 2-1 while topping Misericordia, 11-2 in five innings of play.

"We got contributions from every athlete today. When we've come down here in years past, we had tough start dues to lack of offensive output, but today, we got on a roll and it was a lot of fun to be a part of," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Our pitching was strong and our bats came alive early. If that continues for the rest of the week, I like our chances and it gets us prepared for the Empire 8 portion of the schedule."

Game One vs WPI

The first inning remained scoreless for both teams before WPI's Biney scored off a double to center field from Graca in the top of the second inning. The very first at-bat for senior Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) resulted in Alfred University's first hit of 2018, which went over the left field fence for a one-run, home run.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lea Georgatos (Emerson, NJ/Immaculate Conception) got to second base on a double to left center field to start the Saxons off. Kelley Staub (Eden, NY/Eden Jr./Sr.) walked to make it runners on first and second. Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) singled up the middle to load the bases with Saxon runners before Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) drove home what would become the game-winning run with a single to the pitcher, allowing each runner to advance, including Georgatos's run to home plate.

WPI's bats remained a threat throughout the game but the pitching of Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) totaled 11 strikeouts, including four during the remaining three innings of play. She began the game with an assist on the first batter and two looking strikeouts. All three outs in the second inning were swinging strikeouts. Wilcox added another two in the third and fourth innings. She only gave up six hits in the seven innings.

Murray went 2-for-2 on the day. Saucedo and Schaefer tallied the only RBI's for the Saxons while Schaefer and Georgatos were the only ones to cross home.

Game Two vs Misericordia

First-year Trisha Whaley (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) led Alfred University in the second game of the day, going 3-for-3 with four RBI's and one run. Both Desiree Luquin (Chula Vista, CA/Otay Ranch) and Murray went 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs each. Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) also had multiple trips across home plate with two runs. She went 1-for-3 on the day. Brenna Alvis (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa) recorded two RBI's on the day while Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech) rounded out the runs-batted-in for the Saxons as they mercy-ruled Misericordia.

Alvis recorded her first collegiate triple in the top of the second inning that scored both Georgatos and Whaley.

Schaefer pitched four, complete innings with three strikeouts and three hits while both runs were earned as the Saxons did not commit a single error on the day.

The Saxons will next take on Baldwin Wallace University at 9AM and Aurora University at 11:15am on Monday, March 5 during Day Two of the Alfred University Spring Break Training trip.