CLERMONT, Fla. – Senior pitcher Jessica Wilcox (Forrestville, N.Y./Pine Valley) tied the Alfred University softball program career strikeout record, as the Saxons began their 2020 season in Florida with a pair of contests. The Saxons fell to Marietta by a 5-3 score in game one and dropped a 1-0 pitcher's duel to Suffolk in game two.
 
The Saxons are 0-2, while Marietta improved to 1-1 and Suffolk got in the win column at 1-3.
 
Wilcox entered 2020 needing just seven strikeouts to tie the record of 347, set by Brittany Curran '06. She did just that in a brilliant performance, allowing just four hits over seven innings against Suffolk in game two. Wilcox has twice set the regular season record for strikeouts, with 154 and 150 strikeouts in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
 
"We had some day one blunders that need to be cleaned up, but the positives outweighed the negatives," said head coach Luke Wesneski. "We needed timely hitting and to make adjustments in-game, which wasn't there today. Our pitching was outstanding, and I hope that we are able to capitalize on that with improved defense and offense throughout the week. Tomorrow is a new day!"
 
GAME ONE
 
The Saxons began the game with a leadoff double by Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, Calif./Oak Hills). She later advanced on an error to give the Saxons an early 1-0 lead. The Pioneers matched in the bottom of the frame, tying things up thanks to a Marietta triple, combined with an AU error. Marietta then scored two more in the second to take a 3-1 lead.
 
The bats got started again in the top of the fifth inning. Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) laid a perfectly placed bunt to get on with one out, then Lugo lifted a single to put runners on first and second. With two outs, Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, Calif./John F. Kennedy) laced a single to left field, scoring Lugo to cut the deficit in half, 3-2.
 
Marietta scored a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 5-2 lead into the seventh.
 
With Alfred on its last licks, pinch hitter Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, Calif./Birmingham Community Charter) bunted on, then raced to third on an error by the Marietta catcher. She then scored on a wild pitch in the next at bat to cut the deficit to 5-3. After Carrillo scored, Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, Calif./Simi Valley) took a shot into center field, but Pioneer center fielder Taylor Watts made a diving catch to get the out. Marietta pitcher Maddi Liston (1-0) then retired the next two batters to preserve the victory.
 
The Saxons had eight hits in game one, led by a 3-for-4 performance at the plate by Lugo.
 
 
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, Calif./St. Francis) took the hill for her first collegiate start. She gave up two earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched, striking out four batters.
 
 
GAME TWO
 
Game two was a pitcher's duel between Wilcox and Suffolk hurler Alexa White. The pitchers traded zeros through six innings, but it wasn't without trouble from both offenses. Wilcox pitched out of a pair of jams in the third and fifth innings, while White got out of a fifth-inning jam after a double by Guitron.
 
In the top of the sixth, Wilcox (0-1) struck out the leadoff batter to tie the aforementioned record, but the Saxons were unable to capitalize in the bottom of the frame as the teams went into the seventh scoreless. In the top of the seventh, Suffolk broke through due to a pair of Saxon errors, taking the 1-0 lead. Needing to rally, White retired the side in order to clinch the complete game shutout (1-1).
 
The Saxons tallied three hits in game two.
 
Alfred will take on Penn State-Hazleton and D'Youville College on Monday, beginning at 1:30 p.m.