KEUKA PARK, NY – The Alfred University softball team (10-10, Empire 8 3-1) swept nonconference foe, Keuka College, on Tuesday afternoon, getting back to .500 on the season. Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) overtook the fourth spot on the all-time strikeout list at AU, surpassing Nicole Hedrick '12.
 
The Saxons won both games on Tuesday evening in tight fashion. AU downed Keuka 5-2 in game one and 4-3 in game two. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) led the Saxons with four hits in the doubleheader while sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/Whittier) chalked up three RBIs.
 
Game One
The Saxons were the first on the board when junior Alana Eaton (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) reached base safely on an error by the pitcher. First-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) moved her over to third with a single to right field before fellow first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) batted Eaton in on a squeeze play. The Wolfpack scored twice in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, 2-1.
 
AU knotted the game up in the top of the fourth inning when Murray got everything started with a single through the left side. She went on to steal second and third before Saucedo recorded her first RBI of the day on a groundout to first base.
 
The Saxons pulled out ahead in the top of the fifth, 5-2. Eaton and Guitron started the inning again with back-to-back singles before first-year Tati Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) loaded the bases with yet another single. Junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) came up with the clutch hit, scoring Eaton and Guitron with a single. Pinch runner Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) stole second in the next at bat, drawing an errant throw and scoring Mejia.
 
Wilcox made quick of the remaining three at bats for Keuka, earning her sixth win of the season 5-2. She recorded her fifth complete game of the season, striking out three batters and allowing only one earned run. Wilcox now has 56 strikeouts on the season, pushing her career mark to 242, ranking fourth all-time at AU. She now turns her sights to the #3 spot on the all-time strikeout list, currently occupied by Alison Wickwire '15 with 265 career strikeouts.
 
The Saxons ran rampant on the Wolfpack in game one, stealing five bases. AU also recorded eight hits, four RBIs and two walks.
 
Game Two
The nightcap of the series was another pitching duel with neither team scoring in the first four innings. Finally, the Saxons broke through when Eaton doubled with one out. One batter later, Eaton found her way home for the second time of the third time of the day when Saucedo singled to score the run. Keuka took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, 2-1.
 
Saucedo came to the rescue in the top of the seventh again for the Saxons to knot the game. First-year Delaney Kelly (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch) singled with the game on the line and two outs. She was replaced by Lugo who stole second, marking her 11^th steal of the year. With Lugo in scoring position, Saucedo logged her third RBI of the day with a single to center, knotting the game up and sending the it to extra innings.
 
AU wasted no time in extras to seal the game, scoring three runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead 4-2. Guitron began the inning on second base via the international tie-breaker ruling. She was advanced to third by senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) who laid down the sacrifice bunt. O'Toole knocked her in with a double to take the lead, 3-2. The Saxons tacked on an insurance run after Ceja walked and scored from first on a double by Murray. Keuka attempted the comeback in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run, but sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) kept the Wolfpack at bay, sealing her third win of the season.
 
Dyke pitched 8.0 innings, striking out a career-high six batters. She allowed zero earned runs in the game while moving to 3-3 overall in the circle.
 
"I would like to thank Keuka for rescheduling these games so we could play some ball and we just beat the darkness," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said about the fading daylight. "Hats off to our two pitchers for keeping us in the two games. We played some girls out of position due to some injuries and they stepped up and we couldn't be more proud. They certainly came through when we needed them. A complete team effort all around today from our players."
 
The Saxons are back in action tomorrow when they host #10 Ithaca College at 3PM on Harrington Field.