ELMIRA, NY – The Alfred University softball team (13-13, Empire 8 5-3) stayed on form Sunday afternoon, splitting with Elmira College on the road. Junior Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) and first-year Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) led the Saxons at the plate with four hits each on the day.
 
The Saxons went 1-1 on the day in Empire 8 play at Elmira College despite tallying 17 hits. Both Guitron and Murray continued their hitting clinic on the year, leading the Saxons with 24 and 18 hits on the year, respectively. Murray leads AU with a .367 batting average in 2019 after finishing tied for the team-high in 2018 with a .379 batting average.
 
Game One
Despite spending over 12 hours on a bus in the last two days, AU came out strong, putting up four runs in the top of the first. First-year Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hill) got the day started with a single to right field before Guitron, who moved from the lead-off spot to the three-spot, singled through the right side advanced Lugo to third. Murray tallied her first RBI of the day when she hit the gap in right center, pushing in Lugo to give the Saxons the advantage. Senior Becca Alexander (Middletown, DE/Middletown) juiced the bases with a walk before junior Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach) reached base safely on an error, scoring Guitron. AU tallied its final run of the inning when first-year Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) also reached base on an error, scoring Murray and Alexander. All-in-all, AU racked up four runs on the Soaring Eagles.
 
AU added another run in the top of the third when Murray doubled to left center and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexander. Murray scored on a triple when O'Toole lasered a shot to right center, marking the first triple in her career. The Soaring Eagles scored two in the bottom of the fourth before they were snubbed out by the Saxons, giving AU its fifth Empire 8 win of the year.
 
Junior Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) pitched 4.0 innings, striking out two batters and allowing only two runs. Sophomore Moreta Dyke (Milesburg, PA/Bald Eagle Area) finished the game, pitching 3.0 innings, striking out one batter and earning her first save of her career.
 
Game Two
Once again, the Saxons jumped out to an early lead when O'Toole singled down the right field line. She moved to second when Alexander laid down a sacrifice bunt and stole third, getting into prime scoring position for senior Lu Krawczyk (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) who singled down the left field line to recorded an RBI. Elmira scored three unanswered runs to take the lead, 3-1.
 
AU's rally began when Guitron crushed her fifth double of the season in the top of the fifth. She advanced to third on a ground out by Lugo before Murray batted her in with a single up the middle. The Soaring Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, increasing the lead 4-2.
 
The Saxons knotted the game up in the top of the seventh when Guitron reached base after getting hit by a pitch. She touched them all when Lugo tripled to left center. Lugo scored when Murray provided with a sacrifice fly to left field, making the game even heading into the bottom of the seventh. However, Elmira scored in the bottom of the inning with two outs with a single and double, taking their first Empire 8 win of the year.

Dyke pitched 5.0 innings while Murray pitched 1.2 innings, earning the loss in the game. 
 
The Saxons are off until Wednesday when they host nonconference foe Oswego State on Harrington field at 3:30PM. AU will be participating in a Cancer Awareness Game and the Saxon-for-Saxon event.