UTICA, NY -- The Alfred University softball team (18-12, 6-4 Empire 8) dropped two games to Empire 8 foe Utica College 6-2 and 6-4 despite four RBIs from senior Haley Powers (Newark, DE/St. Georges Tech).

Powers notched four hits, four RBIs and two runs scored over the course of the two games. Junior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) added two RBIs during the first inning of the second game.

Game One

Junior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) singled up the middle during the first inning, but was unable to instill life into the Saxon offense early. The Pioneers scored in back-to-back innings to earn a 2-0 advantage. They continued on to increase the lead to four in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

AU generated offense in the top of the sixth when senior Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) singled to center and junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) reached on an error to give the Saxons two base runners. Krawczyk moved them over on a groundout to short before Powers grabbed her first two RBIs of the day on a single to center. However, the Pioneers answered back in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-2 victory in game one.

Sophomore Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) went three innings earning four K's and allowing only two runs on three hits. Murray completed the game with, striking out two Pioneers and allowing only one earned run.

Game Two

The Saxons jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first after Krawczyk walked and Powers singled to get the game going. Sophomore Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) pushed them over with a sac bunt. Alexander ripped in her two RBIs of the day on a single to center to give AU the 2-0 advantage. Utica answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take the lead 3-2. They continued their run in the bottom of the third, scoring two more on a homer and then scored again in the bottom of the fourth to maintain a 6-2 lead.

AU attempted to come back in the top of the seventh, rallying with two outs. Krawczyk began the opportunity when she singled to center and scored when Powers went yard for the fourth time this season. Despite new life, the game came to an end in the next at-bat with Utica on top, 6-4.

Schaefer went six innings, striking out two batters and allowing four earned runs. The Saxons racked up 11 hits and left six runners on base. 

AU returns to the diamond on Monday when they travel to Oswego to take on the Lakers in a nonconference matchup.