SaxonTV YouTube Recap

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team (15-13, Empire 8 7-3) swept the Houghton Highlanders in back-to-back shutout games in Empire 8 play on Thursday afternoon on Harrington Field. Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) pitched 12.0 scoreless innings in the circle for the Saxons.
 
Wilcox (11-5) led the Saxons on Thursday afternoon in the circle, keeping the Highlanders off the board in both games in the doubleheader. She finished her day with 12.0 innings pitched, 14 strikeouts and only two walks. Wilcox now has an Empire 8-leading 88 strikeouts on the year and 273 strikeouts in her career. She passed Alison Wickwire '15, who finished her career with 269 strikeouts, on the all-time strikeout list, reaching third all-time in AU history. She only looks up at Chelsea Cary '11 and Brittany Curran '06 who have 312 and 347 strikeouts, respectively.
 
Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) provided the firepower on the day, recording five hits, three RBIs and one homerun.
 
Game One
Both teams struggled to put a run on the board in the opening four and half innings of the day before AU finally broke the seal in the bottom of the fifth putting up six runs. Sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) led the inning off with a walk before first-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) singled down the right field line, putting runners on second and first. Saucedo stole third before first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) knocked her in with a grounder to second. Guitron was batted in when Murray singled to center and first-year Tati Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) advanced to third after reaching base safely via an error. Mejia scored on the next play when senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, West, NY/West Seneca West) dropped down a bunt and the Houghton pitcher attempted the play at the plate. However, Mejia put forth a masterful slide, avoiding the tag and scoring AU's third run of the inning.
 
Senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) pushed in Murray for her lone RBI of the day and junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) chipped in with an RBI double to right center, scoring Krawczyk. Ceja finally scored to bring the score to 6-0 when Saucedo singled up the middle.
 
The Saxons closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth when Lugo and Mejia got on base to start in the inning. Pinch hitter, Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) closed the game out with a laser down the left field line, turning into a 2 RBI double.
 
Wilcox went 5.0 innings in the game, striking out seven while sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) came in relief, putting in 1.0 inning of work, striking out two batters.
 
Game Two
Much like the first game, both teams got runners on base, but were unable to break through on the scoring column. The Saxons had a runner on third in the bottom of the second and fourth but were turned away by the Highlander defense.
 
Finally, Murray belted a two-run homer over the left field wall, giving the Saxons the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Houghton threatened in the top of the sixth, putting runners on first and second before Wilcox retired the side for her 11^th win of the year.

"Championship teams are built on consistency," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We have been consistent with our pitching and fairly consistent with our  defense and now we're just working on being more consistent offensively. Very proud of our pitching staff, as they grabbed two shut outs today with a very good defensive performance. Jill Murray is seeing the ball so well and ripping the cover off of it. We are very happy for her. It was a team effort today and we now move on and get ready for a tough battle with Fisher on Saturday."
 
The Saxons turn their eyes to Empire 8 rival, St. John Fisher on Saturday. AU will head to Rochester, NY to face the Cardinals with significant Empire 8 implications on the line.