ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team (8-10, Empire 8 3-1) split with Utica College on Saturday afternoon at Harrington Field. Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) tied Nicole Hedrick's '12 career strikeout mark, ranking fourth all-time in AU history with 239 strikeouts.
 
The Saxons jumped on the Pioneers early, taking game one of the day in a run-rule game, 8-0 before dropping the second game 8-3. First-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) led AU on the day with three doubles, two RBIs and one run scored. Wilcox pitched a total of 10 innings, striking out 11 batters and allowing only three earned runs. Following her performance, Wilcox sits atop the Empire 8 in strikeouts on the season (53) and is tied for most wins (5).
 
Game One
The first game was all Saxons, who earned their first shutout of the 2019 season over the Pioneers. Wilcox threw 76 pitches in 5.0 innings with six strikeouts and only four hits allowed.
 
The AU offense came to life early in the bottom of the second inning when first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) walked with one out. Senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) moved O'Toole over with a sacrifice bunt before first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) earned an RBI with a single to right field, giving AU the lead, 1-0.
 
The Saxons lit up the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) walked to open the inning and stole second. Guitron earned her first RBI of the day when she doubled to left center, scoring Saucedo. First-year Tati Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) joined the party with an RBI of her own one at-bat later, scoring Guitron on a successful squeeze play. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) stepped in next, doubling over the center fielder's head, scoring senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West). Alexander pushed in Mejia with a ground out to short before Lugo singled up the middle to score Murray, bringing AU's tally up to 6-0 heading into the fourth inning.
 
AU closed the game in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of back-to-back walks with one out. Lugo stepped up with runners on first and second and singled down the right field line, scoring Ceja. Lugo then stole second on the next pitch, drawing the throw and allowing Alexander to score, giving AU the 8-0 victory.
 
The Saxons finished the game with eight hits, seven RBIs and four walks compared to the Pioneers' four hits and only one walk.
 
Game Two
The Saxons continued their momentum into game two, scoring two runs in the first. Junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) knocked a two-run double over the left fielder's head, scoring Murray and Krawczyk to give AU the lead. The Pioneers answered back in the top of the fourth with one run to bring the game to 2-1.
 
AU added another run in the fourth inning when Guitron smashed her third double of the day, scoring junior Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) who had previously singled down the right field line and stole second base. However, the Pioneers scored six runs in the top of the sixth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, taking the game 8-3.
 
Jess Wilcox pitched 5.0 innings, striking out five batters and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) and Murray came in as relief. Dyke allowed three earned runs while striking out one batter. Murray pitched 1.2 innings, allowing only one hit.
 
Overall, AU had 14 hits on the day including five doubles while stealing five total bases.
 
"I was very pleased with the way we played softball for all but one inning today," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We took one inning off and gave up seven runs and that can't happen when you are playing a tough conference opponent. We got everyone's best effort, but we have to work on staying mentally tough for 14 innings. We will get better, and I like where we are at right now. We'll enjoy a much needed day off tomorrow before a very busy week."
 
The Saxons are back in action on Monday when they travel to Keuka Park, NY to face the Wolf Pack of Keuka College at 3PM.