ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team (16-10, 4-2 Empire 8) fell to nonconference Penn State-Behrend 6-3 in back-to-back games on Harrington Field on Wednesday evening.
 
Sophomore Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) led the Saxons on the day with five hits including a double and a triple while junior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) cranked her second homer of the season and batted in four runs over the course of the two games.
 
Game One
 
The Lions jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning. The Saxons looked to answer back in the bottom of the inning when Murray advanced to third on a double by senior Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech), but were unable to get the key hit to get on the board.
 
PSB increased its lead in the top of the fourth off two doubles, pushing runners across the plate. However, AU made its way into the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth when first year Trisha Whaley (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) walked to open the inning. She scored on the next at-bat when Alexander hammered a shot to left center. Junior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) followed suit and doubled to right, getting Alexander in for the score.
 
The Saxons scored again in the fifth when Murray led the inning with a double and advanced to third on an error by the shortstop. Powers slapped a single to right field, scoring Murray, and bringing the game to 4-3.
 
The Lions pulled away again in the top of the seventh off a two-run homerun, sealing the game 6-3.
 
Sophomore Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) went the distance in the circle, fanning eight batters and allowing only one walk.
 
Game Two
 
The second game began similar to the first with PSB pulling out to a 2-0 lead in the opening inning. AU answered in its half the inning when Murray and Krawczyk singled to start the offense. Alexander pushed both runners over with a sacrifice bunt before Powers earned the RBI on a groundout to the shortstop.
 
The Lions scored again in the top of the second, taking the game to 3-1 before the Saxons knotted the game up on a two-run shot by Alexander.
 
Despite having the momentum, AU was unable to hold of Penn State-Behrend in the end, falling 6-3 in the nightcap.
 
Senior Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) pitched the entire game, racking up five k's and only two walks.

Head Coach Luke Wesneski said, "We are in a little funk right now but these girls are resilient and will step it up for a busy conference weekend."
 
The Saxons return to the field on Thursday when they host Empire 8 foe, Elmira College, on Harrington Field at 3PM and 5PM.