CORTLAND, NY – The Alfred University softball team (19-17, Empire 8 9-5) split with the Dragons of SUNY Cortland on the road Wednesday afternoon. Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) broke the Alfred University softball single-season program record for shutouts, completing her seventh shutout of the year.
 
Wilcox, who currently owns the record for single-season strikeouts (150) and strikeouts in a game (14), set another program standard by throwing her seventh complete-game shutout of the season versus SUNY Cortland. The record was previously held by Chelsey Carey '11, Holly Seidwand '08 and Illana Price '07. Wilcox also moved into the top-five in AU history for wins in a season with her 14^th win of the year, tying Jenny Rae Skinner '00 and currently stands third all-time in AU history with 305 career strikeouts. She is only eight strikeouts short of surpassing Carey (312) for second all-time in AU history.
 
Game One
Cortland jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a homerun in the bottom of the second inning and added an insurance run to extend the lead 3-0 in the bottom of the third.
 
The Saxons threatened in the fifth inning when first-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) singled up the middle with one out. She stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch on back-to-back pitches, getting in prime position. However, the Saxons were unable to knock her in, going down in order.
 
AU had another opportunity in the seventh inning when first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) batted a ball up the middle to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on passed ball before Lugo got her 60 feet closer to home with a single to pitcher. Lugo stole second on the next pitch – marking her 17^th stolen base on the season and putting her in the top-five all-time at AU for steals in a season, tying Alyson Hampton '15 who stole 17 bases during the 2015 campaign. Despite having two ducks on the pond, AU was unable to score, closing out the game.
 
Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) earned the start on the day, pitching 2.0 innings and allowing three hits. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) finished the game with 4.0 innings pitched, allowing four hits.
 
Game Two
 After being bottled up in game one, the AU bats came to life in game two out of the gates. Sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) led the game off with a single to left field and first-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) followed suit with a single up the middle. Murray moved the runners over setting up junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) for the RBI with a fielder's choice, giving AU the 1-0 lead.
 
The Saxons scored again in the second inning when junior Alana Eaton (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) singled up the middle. First-year Mara Moore (Torrance, CA/West High) singled to third, moving Eaton over. Guitron lasered a shot up the middle, finally scoring Eaton and giving AU the 2-0 lead.
 
Neither team could find the plate until the seventh inning when the Saxons added two more runs to their tally. Ceja led the inning off with a walk and junior Jamie Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) came in as a pinch runner. She immediately stole second base ahead of a walk by Delaney Kelly (San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch). O'Toole reached based on a throwing error while attempting a sacrifice bunt while Wilcox scored on the throwing error. Kelly scored during the next at-bat when Lugo singled to the shortstop before stealing her 18^th base of the season, taking sole possession for fifth on the single-season board at AU.
 
Wilcox pitched 7.0 innings, striking out four batters and allowing only two hits.
 
"Today was great team-softball and fun to be a part of," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Sixteen players helped this team to a split against a very good SUNYAC team. All of our hitters executed when called upon and the defense was superb all day. Congratulations to Jess Wilcox on her seventh shutout of the year!"
 
The Saxons return to the diamond tomorrow when they host SUNYAC opponent Oswego State on the Doris Harrington Field at 3:30PM.