REDLANDS, CA – The Alfred University softball team (2-2, Empire 0-0) split with the University of Redlands on day two of the 2019 Spring Break trip funded by Saxon Nation. First-years Tati Mejia (North Hills, NY/John F. Kennedy) and Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) along with senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) led the Saxons with three hits on the day.
 
The Saxons dominated the Bulldogs in the first game 10-3 while falling 10-2 in the second game. Overall, AU tallied 17 hits on the day.
 
Game One
The Saxons wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in the top of the first inning. Junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) doubled to left field, scoring Mejia to give AU the lead. However, the Bulldogs stormed back in the bottom of the first to take the lead on a three-run homerun.
 
AU answered back in the top of the second loading up the bases and taking advantage of the opportunities. First-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) was hit by a pitch, earning an RBI on the play. During the next at-bat the trio of Saxons on base advanced on a wild pitch, scoring junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) on the play. Guitron pushed another run across the play on a sac fly to left field, giving AU the lead again, 4-3.
 
The Saxons loaded the bases again in the top of the third following a walk by Alexander and back-to-back bunt singles by first-year Delaney Kelly (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) and senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West). Murray earned an RBI with a single to left while sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) followed suit on the next at-bat. Lugo earned another RBI after being hit by a pitch one batter later and was followed by Guitron who earned an RBI with a liner to right. Two batters later, Ceja pushed Saucedo across the plate, giving AU the 9-3 lead at the end of the third.
 
AU put the final nail in the coffin when Mejia scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning, sealing the Saxon victory. Mejia finished the game with three hits and two runs.
 
Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) pitched a complete game, accumulating three strikeouts while allowing eight hits and three runs.
 
Game Two
The Saxons fell behind early in the second game, allowing eight runs in the first two innings. AU answered back in the fourth inning when Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) hit a towering ball to right center, that was dropped by the center fielder, allowing the first-year duo of Mara Moore (Torrance, CA/West High) and Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) to score.
 
The Bulldogs clinched the victory on a two-run single to left field in the fifth inning, run-ruling the Saxons.
 
Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) pitched 1.2 innings allowing seven runs with zero earned. Murray finished the game allowing two runs on six hits.
 
 "I was really happy with the way they came out and started swinging the bats," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "They started getting some confidence yesterday afternoon and it showed this morning in game one. I do have to say I was disappointed with our game two performance. I thought we would get a little more out of them. We gave them four or five outs in a couple different innings and it came back to haunt us."
 
The Saxons travel to Cal Lutheran on Tuesday, March 12 to take part in day three of Spring Break.