KISSIMMEE, FL – The Alfred University softball team split on Day Five of its 2018 Spring Break Training trip with a 10-6 win over Montclair State University and a 4-3 loss to John Carroll on Friday.

"We were very happy to see our offense start strong in our first game of the day. That with the support of solid pitching from Shannon [Schaefer] and our defense, just showed us that if we are consistent, we can win games despite the fatigue from all of these games this week," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Our second game was very exciting as we fought hard to close a three-run gap and as we put ourselves in a position to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. Even though the result wasn't for us, we still know that if we can clean up a couple of things, we could have won that game. Everyone is banged up from this intense week of play, especially the pitchers, but I hope we can get two solid games tomorrow out of everyone and leave Florida on a good note."

Game One

The Saxons (6-4, 0-0 Empire 8) scored eight of their 10 runs in the first two innings of play against Montclair Friday afternoon. Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) put AU on the board in the top of the first with a triple down the right field line, scoring Desiree Luquin (Chula Vista, CA/Otay Ranch) and Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) for the 2-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) doubled to left center field and then stole third on Alfred's second out. Saucedo reached on an error by the Montclair pitcher that scored Krawczyk for the unearned run. Luquin hit a double to right field that landed in play, then took a hop out allowing Saucedo, Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) to all cross home plate for the 6-0 lead.

Alexander continued her hitting clinic as she went yard to left field, scoring Luquin for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Montclair battled back with runs in the bottom of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings (scoring three in the fifth for a total of six runs) before the Saxon defense, led by Schaefer, shut down their rally.

Alexander led the attack, going 2-for-4 with four RBI's and one run. Luquin had one hit on two at-bats with four RBI's and two runs. Saucedo crossed home three times and had one RBI. Schaefer tallied the final RBI while joining Ceja, Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech) and Krawczyk as those who had one run.

Schaefer had three strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched while giving up eight hits and five earned runs. Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) came in for relief in the seventh inning and struck out two batters.

Game Two

Alfred University fell to John Carroll University in the final inning. JCU scored three runs in the third inning for what seemed like the game until the bottom of the sixth when the Saxon batters stepped up.

Krawczyk singled to right center field and advanced on a throw while Kelley Staub (Eden, NY/Eden) advanced to second and then third on the throw to home where Trisha Whaley (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) crossed the plate, bringing the score up to 1-3 in favor of John Carroll. Brenna Alvis (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa) hit a single to the same spot as Krawczyk, scoring both Krawczyk and Staub to tie the game at three.

John Carroll tallied another run in the top of the seventh inning but an infield fly out set the outcome and final score in favor of JCU.

Wilcox still led the game with strikeouts as she retired eight batters. This is her fourth, complete game with eight or more strikeouts this season. She totals 44 on the season after six appearances.

The Saxons will end their Florida stay on Saturday, March 10 with a 9AM game against Plattsburgh State and an 11:15AM start versus Webster University.