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ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's softball team (5-9, Empire 0-0) dropped back-to-back games to the Knights of Geneseo at home on Wednesday evening despite two late rallies. First-year Tati Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) hit her first career homerun in game one of the doubleheader.
 
The Saxons racked up 19 hits on the day against the Knights but were edged out in both games during the 2019 home opener at Harrington Field. Mejia led the Saxons with three hits and four RBIs on the day. Senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) and first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) both had three hits on the day.
 
Game One
The Knights jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first three innings before Mejia got the Saxons on the board with a double to left center, scoring Krawczyk, in the bottom of the third. Geneseo added another run in the top of the fourth, bringing the game 8-1.
 
The Saxons bounced back in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Senior Kelley Staub (Eden, NY/Eden) go AU started with a double down the right field line, scoring O'Toole who had previously reached base on a single to right. Sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/Whitter) batted in first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak High) on an infield single where Lugo beat out the throw to home from first. Heading into the fifth, AU trailed 8-3.
 
The Saxons continued to chip away in the bottom of the fifth with Krawczyk and Mejia getting on base with back-to-back singles. First-year Delaney Kelly (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) hammered a double over the center fielder's head, scoring Krawczyk and moving Mejia to third. Senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, De/Middletown) joined the action, batting Mejia across the plate. Staub nabbed two more RBIs two batters later, scoring O'Toole and Alexander. At the close of the fifth inning AU nipped at Geneseo's heels 9-7.
 
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Mejia knotted the game up 9-9, crushing a bomb over the left field fence. A scoreless seventh inning sent the game into extra innings.
 
The Knights scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning to take the lead 13-9. AU attempted to battle back, scoring one in the bottom of the inning, but it was to no avail, dropping the game 13-10.
 
Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) started the game, pitching two innings and allowing six earned runs with one strikeout. Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) finished the game allowing five earned runs and striking out two batters.
 
Game Two
Geneseo jumped out on top again, 3-0, in the first two innings. The Saxons answered back in the bottom of the third when Krawczyk batted in fellow senior Staub with a sacrifice fly to left field. The Knights scored five more runs the top of the sixth inning, taking the lead 8-1.
 
AU looked for another comeback in the bottom of the seventh when junior Alana Eaton (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) singled to start the inning. First-year Mara Moore (Torrance, CA/West High) drew a walk in the next at-bat, putting two AU runners on. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) stepped in as a pinch hitter and hammered a ball up the middle, scoring Eaton from second and moving the pinch runner, Lugo, to third. Saucedo batted in Lugo on a ground out to the pitcher, scoring AU's final run of the evening.
 
Murray pitched a complete game striking out three batters and allowing five earned runs.
 
"It was nice to get back on the field and play some games today," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Geneseo is a very good team that's very well coached and I'm glad we showed some hear in game one and never gave up, giving us a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. They showed a lot of grit and hear today and that will take a long way through the season. No one likes to lose but learning along the way will help us in May. We are continually working things out and we are looking forward to conference games this weekend with a healthy team.
 
The Saxons open Empire 8 Conference play on Friday with a doubleheader against Sage Colleges at 3PM and 5PM.