OSWEGO, NY – The Alfred University Saxons (19-13, 6-4 Empire 8) split their doubleheader with the Lakers of Oswego State, dropping the opening game 1-0 and winning 6-1 in the nightcap.
 
Sophomore Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) led AU in the first game with two hits and then hopped on the mound to pitch a complete game during the latter contest. She posted three K's and only two walks while giving up four hits in seven innings of work to earn her first win of the 2018 season.
 
Game One
 
The Saxons had life at the start of the game when Murray singled up the middle and stole second, but they were unable to get on the board. Senior Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) kept the Lakers off the board until the third inning, holding them to only two hits in 2.1 innings of work. However, Oswego took the lead when their starting pitcher, Rebecca Vilchez, homered.
 
The Saxons mustered two base runners in the top of the fifth on a hit-by-pitch and walk, but they could not get their key hit it knot the game up. The Lakers maintained the narrow win down the stretch, 1-0.
 
Schaefer threw her seventh complete game of the year, striking out two and allowing only one earned run on four hits.
 
Game Two
 
AU remained quiet in the first two innings of the game before sophomore Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) got the offense moving with a double in the top of the third. She scored when first year Brenna Alvis (Costa Mesa, CA/Costa Mesa) singled through the infield andcontinued to third following an error by the left fielder, but was never scored.
 
The Saxons scored twice in the top of the fifth to expand their lead. Ceja got the rally started again with a single to open the inning. First year Chantel Singleton (Olean, NY/Olean) subbed in as a pinch runner and moved to second on a single and third on a steal. She finally scored on a passed ball that moved junior Becca Alexander (Middleton, DE/Middleton) to third and Alvis to second. Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) grabbed an RBI in the next at-bat, grounding out to second, but giving Alexander the time to cross the plate.
 
AU added three more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away. Alexander began the inning by singling up the middle before she was pushed over to second by Alvis. Junior Lea Georgatos (Emerson, NJ/Immaculate Conception) put the ball in play and reached on an error that scored Alexander from second. Georgatos was moved to third by Saucedo before Powers knocked her in on a single. Powers advanced to third on an error by the center fielder and was eventually scored by sophomore Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley), who ripped a shot up the middle.
 
The Lakers finally scored in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too late as the Saxons closed the game with a 6-1 victory.
 
Murray finished her third career complete game while moving the Saxons to 19-13 overall.
 
"We squandered a fabulous pitching performance by Shannon Schaefer in game one," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "She was a beast and we didn't hit for her. We made some adjustments between games and came out and strung a few together. Jill Murray was spot on in that game and I was happy to see her gave a great outing."
 
AU has Tuesday off, but will return to the field on Wednesday when it hosts Empire 8 rival, St. John Fisher College at 3PM on Harrington Field.