CLERMONT, Fla. – The Alfred University softball team played strong against tough competition, with solid pitching leading to a day three split at THE Spring Games, held at the Hancock Recreational Complex Tuesday night.
Alfred's record stands at 3-3 after a hard-fought split. The Saxons took care of Bridgewater State (1-2-1) by a 4-0 score in game one, then were tested by No. 25 Manhattanville (4-2) in a 1-0 game two loss.
"I'm proud of the way we competed in both games," said head coach
Luke Wesneski. "We didn't get the result we wanted in game two, but it was a gutsy effort against a ranked Manhattanville squad. Once again, a great effort from our pitchers today and we came up with some timely hits. We are going to continue to work on the little things and will look to improve every day."
GAME ONE
Senior pitcher
Jillian Murray (Eden, NY/Eden) got the nod in the circle for the first time this season and made an instant impact. Murray (1-0) flummoxed the Bears hitters all afternoon, spinning a no-hitter through 4.2 innings. A soft single ended the no-hitter with two outs in the fifth inning, as the senior finished the afternoon allowing just two hits over five innings of work, striking out six batters.
For the third consecutive game, the offense got going with a first inning run. With
Alana Eaton (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) at third,
Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) drove her home with a two-out single to left field to give the Saxons a 1-0 lead. In the third,
Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) tallied the Saxons' first triple of the season, driving in both Ceja and
Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon). Murray then scored Mejia in the next at bat to take a 4-0 lead.
Bridgewater State threatened to score in the sixth inning. With
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) in relief, the Bears loaded the bases with one out. Undeterred, Hatch forced the ground out at home plate in the next at bat, then struck out the Bears pinch hitter on a nasty off-speed pitch to end the threat. The Bears got a couple of runners on in the seventh inning, but Hatch forced the fly out to Guitron to end the game. Hatch finished the game with two strikeouts in two shutout innings.
The Saxons tallied eight game one hits, led by two from both Ceja and Eaton. Guitron, Mejia,
Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills), and
Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) each tallied a hit, with Mejia leading the team with two runs driven in.
GAME TWO
Game two against Manhattanville, ranked 25th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, was a duel between two comparable pitching staffs. The teams combined for six hits and one extra base hit in the seven-inning affair.
The Saxons threatened in the third inning, as
Mara Moore (Torrance, CA/West High) knocked in a single to right field.
Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) pinch ran for Moore, stealing second and third base. Eaton walked, leaving runners on first and third with two outs. Valiants starter Charli Shinstine then forced Guitron to ground out, ending the threat.
In the bottom of the frame, an error with two runners on scored the game's lone run, as Isela Castillas knocked in Melina Strano. Wilcox then struck out two consecutive batters and forced a groundout to prevent further damage.
Jasmine Feliciano came on in relief for Shinstine and held the Saxon bats at bay, allowing just one hit over the final four innings of work. Shinstine earned the win (3-2), allowing one hit over the first three innings with four strikeouts. Wilcox (2-2) earned the loss but was brilliant, striking out five and scattering four hits over six innings. Lugo and Flint each stole two bases in the contest.
The Saxons will take Wednesday off, before returning to action Thursday against Wentworth Institute and The College of Wooster at the nearby Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
