CLAREMONT, CA – The Alfred University softball team (5-7, Empire 0-0) closed out the 2019 Spring Break trip to California funded by Saxon Nation with two losses to #14 Pomona Pitzer. Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) surpassed Shannon Schaefer '18 on the all-time career strikeout list. She now ranks fifth in program history with 220 career strikeouts.
 
The Saxons dropped back-to-back games to the Sagehens despite two gem performances from their starting pitchers, Wilcox and sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area). Both went a complete game allowing only two earned runs each.
 
Game One
AU had two early opportunities to score in the first and second inning. First-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) led the game off by being hit by a pitch. However, the three batters behind her went down in straight order. Senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) also got on via a hit-by-pitch, but nothing came of the opportunity.
 
The Saxons got their lone hit of the day when Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) singled through the left side. Fellow first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) bunted her over with a sacrifice, but once again AU was unable to capitalize. Pomona Pitzer finally scored in the bottom of the fifth and defended the lead to the end, 2-0.
 
Wilcox threw her sixth complete game in as many days, recording three strikeouts and no walks. Over the course of the week she 42.2 innings, striking out 34 batters and allowing only 15 earned runs. She finished the week 3-3 overall on the mound.
 
Game Two
The AU offense continued to struggle in the second game as AU fell victim to a no hitter. However, Dyke had another outstanding pitching performance for the second consecutive day, throwing a complete game allowing only two earned runs. Over the course of the week, Dyke threw 19.0 innings, striking out two batters and allowing only seven earned runs. Her earned run average is 2.58.
 
The Saxons mustered only four base runners in the game, three by walks. However, they were unable to string together plays to score, falling 6-0 to the Sagehens.
 
"I thought we played very well today," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Our pitching and our defense were there. Pomona Pitzer is a great team – they are ranked 14^th in the nation for a reason. Their first pitcher was very solid and hit every spot. Jessica Wilcox went pitch-for-pitch with her and we were very pleased with that. In game two, Moreta Dyke had another great performance. We didn't play great defense behind her, but she held them to only two earned runs and we were very pleased with that. Overall, the week was what we expected. These teams out here regardless of record, are very sound. They are in mid-season form and we were in our early season form. We got better as the week went on and leaving here 5-7 isn't what we were hoping for, but we learned a lot of lessons this week and we learned a lot about our team."
 
The Saxons will return to New York and face Keuka College next Saturday, March 23 at 1PM and 3PM on the road.