ROCHESTER, NY – The Alfred University softball team (21-18, Empire 8 8-6) fell to St. John Fisher College in the opening game of the 2018 Empire 8 Championship tournament despite a game-opening double from sophomore Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden).
 
The Saxons opened up the Empire 8 Championship tournament on Friday against the Cardinals and grabbed early momentum before falling 2-0. Murray drilled the opening pitch from Lindsay Thayer over the center fielder's head for a two-bagger but it would prove to be AU's only hit of the game.
 
SJFC scored in the bottom of the first after its first batter walked and was pushed over by a sac bunt. Eventually she scored when Sarah Kubik hammered a single to left field.
 
Sophomore Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) went pitch-for-pitch with Thayer down the stretch after the first inning, keeping the Saxons within one run. She struck out five Cardinals heading into the sixth inning, increasing her season total to a school record 145 strikeouts on the year. However, SJFC scored again in the bottom of the sixth inning when they took advantage of a stolen base opportunity, doubling the lead, 2-0.
 
The Saxons went down in short order in the top of the seventh to end the game. It was the second time AU fell to SJFC 2-0 with Thayer on the mound in 2018.
 
Wilcox went six innings, striking out five batters and walking five. She allowed two runs, with only one earned.
 
The Saxons will play the Stevens Ducks tomorrow at 1:30PM at St. John Fisher as part of the double-elimination tournament. If they win, they will continue on to play the loser of the SJFC and Utica matchup at 11AM on Saturday. AU fell to Stevens twice earlier this season on Harrington Field by the scores 3-1 and 9-5.  The Ducks are currently 1-11 all-time in Empire 8 tournament history.