HOBOKEN, NJ – Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) recorded her fourth complete game shutout on Saturday, aiding the Saxons (12-12, Empire 8 4-2) to a split with the Ducks on the road. Alfred University softball remains atop the Empire 8 standings following Saturday's games.
 
Wilcox, who pitched 12.0 innings on the day and allowed only 2 earned runs, recorded 10 total strikeouts, including nine strikeouts in game one of the doubleheader. She now has an 8-5 overall record in the circle, leading the Empire 8 in wins and strikeouts (72).
 
The Saxon offense accumulated 11 hits on the day, with seven in game one and four in game two. Sophomore Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/Whittier) led AU with three hits on the day while knocking in one RBI. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) was a terror on the base paths, stealing two bases. First-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hill) also stole a base, marking her 12^th stolen base of the year – tied for the most in the Empire 8.
 
Game One
The Saxons threatened right off the bat when first-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) walked to start the game. Murray singled to right to move Guitron to third before stealing second. However, the Saxons were unable to push the baserunners in, leaving the game at 0-0.
 
AU made up for the missed opportunity in the top of the second when senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) singled down the right field line. She moved over to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a successful sacrifice bunt by Lugo. Finally, fellow senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) scored Alexander on a groundout to short, giving AU the 1-0 lead.
 
The Ducks looked to answer in the bottom of the inning, getting a runner to third base, but Wilcox struck out back-to-back batters to maintain her clean bill in the circle.
 
AU nearly increased the lead in the third when Guitron, Saucedo and Murray reached base safely to begin the inning. However, three AU batters went down in rapid succession, keeping the score, 1-0. Wilcox continued her ability to overpower the Ducks down the stretch keeping them off the board. Finally, in the bottom of the seventh, she summoned a final rush, striking out all three batters to seal her eighth win of the year.
 
Wilcox threw 113 pitched over 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits and striking out nine.
 
Game Two
The second game of the afternoon was another pitching duel, with neither team scoring until the fourth inning. Of 24 batters to walk up to the plate, only seven reached base safely and only four had hits. However, Stevens was on the board first, putting a run up in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Saxons found their first run in the top of the fifth when Lugo led off the inning with a single to the pitcher. She stole second during the next at-bat and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly by first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley). Finally, Saucedo pushed her in with a single up the middle, knotting the game up at 1-1. The Ducks scored two in the bottom of the inning, taking the lead, 3-1.
 
AU found late life in the seventh when Lugo singled to second base and advanced to third on a throwing error to second base. O'Toole recorded an RBI when she hammered a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Lugo. The Saxons were unable to get another run before the Ducks closed out the game, 3-2.
 
Wilcox pitched 5.0 innings of game two, striking out one and allowing two earned runs. Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) came in for 1.0 inning of relief, allowing no hits and striking out one batter.
 
"We got a great pitching performance from Jessica Wilcox and Moreta Dyke," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have our bats with us today and really had to work hard to push a run across in game one. We left a lot of runners on and have to find a way to score. We just put too much pressure on our pitching staff and that has to change moving forward. We need to show up every day with every part of our game. We will take the split and learn from it and get ready for tomorrow."
 
The Saxons begin their trip home tonight, but will make a pit stop in Elmira, NY to take on the Soaring Eagles of Elmira College in Empire 8 play.