ROCHESTER, NY – Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) threw her first-career complete-game shutout to lead the Alfred University softball team (18-16, Empire 8 9-5) over Nazareth College in game two of the two-game set on the road.
 
The Saxons split with the Golden Flyers on Saturday afternoon on the road, dropping game one 6-4 and taking game two 3-0 behind a gem of a pitching performance by Murray (2-4). She threw a complete-game shutout, striking out one batter. Fellow Eden High School graduate, Kelley Staub (Eden, NY/Eden) batted in two RBIs in the game to help the Saxons earn the important Empire matchup.
 
Game One
The Saxons jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Golden Flyers when first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) doubled to left field, batting in fellow first-year Delaney Kelly (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch). Lugo eventually scored from second after senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) singled to left field. The Golden Flyers scored six unanswered runs to take the lead, 6-2.
 
AU bounced back in the top of the sixth when first-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) singled with two outs. Lugo added her second and third RBIs to her tally by banging a homer over the right field fence, bringing the Saxons within two runs, 6-4. Sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) led the bottom of the seventh off with a single, setting AU up for another rally, but the next three batters went down in order, closing out the game.
 
Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) started in the circle, throwing 3.0 innings, striking out six batters and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) finished the game, pitching 3.0 innings, shutting out the Golden Flyers and striking out one batter. Four separate Saxons had two hits in the game.
 
Game Two
The nightcap was a pitching duel that was scoreless until the fourth inning. Finally, the Saxons found success when senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) led the inning off with a single to center field. Guitron moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt and Lugo pushed her to third when she got on via an error. Alexander scored when Staub hit a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Saxons the 1-0 lead.
 
The Saxons added two pivotal insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Alexander got the Saxons going again when she got on base via a hit by pitch. Guitron also wore a pitch, putting two AU batters on with no outs. Lugo moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt before Staub earned her second RBI of the game with a single to the pitcher. Saucedo also earned an RBI when she reached base on an error, scoring Guitron.
 
Murray shut the Golden Flyers down the remainder of the way, giving the Saxons their ninth win in conference play. Overall, Murray threw 7.0 innings, striking out one batter and allowing eight hits.
 
"We will take this conference split and move forward," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Hats off to Nazareth as they hit the ball hard today. We saw some good things today from some of our girls and we are excited about that moving forward. We had a great pitching performance from Jill Murray in game two and it was an exciting way to end in the second game. We will enjoy a day off tomorrow and get back to work next week."
 
The Saxons have wrapped up their conference slate and secured a position in the Empire 8 Championship tournament. They will take on SUNY Cortland on Wednesday, April 24 in nonconference play before hosting Oswego State on Thursday to wrap up the regular season.