ORANGE, CA – Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) chalked up her first shutout of the 2019 season, leading the Saxons to a 1-0 victory in game one of the doubleheader against Chapman. AU (3-5, Empire 0-0) dropped the second game 11-3.
 
One day removed from eclipsing 200 career strikeouts, Wilcox threw a complete game shutout against Chapman University on the road. She had five strikeouts in the contest while allowing only five hits and one walk.
 
Game One
It was a pitcher's duel to start the game with both team combining for six hits heading into the top of the fifth inning. Finally, senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca) got the Saxons started in the top of the fifth with a single through the left side of the infield. Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) moved Krawczyk over with an infield single. Krawczyk crossed the plate after first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) dropped down a sacrifice bunt that turned into an errant throw over the first baseman's head. Lugo advanced to third on a wild pitch during the next at bat but was unable to continue home following a ground out.
 
Jessica Wilcox mowed through the Cougars during the final three innings, sitting them down in order.
 
The Saxons finished the game with three hits and one walk compared to the Cougars' five hits and one walk.
 
Game Two
In complete contrast, there were many runs in the second game. Chapman got on the board in the bottom of the first. However, AU bounced back to take the lead 2-1 in the top of the second. Sophomore Trisha Whaley (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) got the inning started with a single before being moved to second by Tati Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) on a sacrifice bunt. Krawczyk batted Whaley in with a double in the next at bat. Junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) followed suit, hitting a double of her own to score Krawczyk rounding out the scoring in the inning.
 
Chapman retaliated in the bottom of the inning, creating space with five runs. The Cougars added to their lead in the fourth inning, increasing the difference 9-2.
 
The Saxons had one more spurt of life in the top of the fifth when Mejia doubled to left, scoring Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) from second base. Chapman went on to score two runs in the fifth and sixth, ending the game, 11-3.
 
Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) pitched 1.1 innings, allowing six earned runs. Moreta Dyke (Mileburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) finished the game with 4.1 innings pitched with two earned runs and two strikeouts.
 
"I was very pleased with our effort in game one," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We are not hitting the way we can and we just need to be patient because we know we can. It's inevitable that it will happen soon. We had a great performance from Jessica Wilcox in game one and also from Moreta Dyke in relief in game two. Once the bats wake up a little, we will have more options with our offense. We just need to shake it off as we face Occidental and Pomona-Pitzer in the next two days."
 
The Saxons will face Occidental at 12 and 2PM (PST) on Thursday afternoon.