ITHACA, NY – The Alfred University softball team finished the regular season with a doubleheader split at Ithaca College, in non-league action from Kostrinsky Field Thursday afternoon.
 
Graduate pitcher Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and graduate infielder Elena Ceja (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Beach Union) hit the game-deciding home run in the fourth inning, leading the Saxons (27-8) to a 2-1 game one victory. In game two, the Saxons were shut out for just the second time this season, as Ithaca (22-6) picked up a 2-0 victory.
 
The Saxons take the season series against the Bombers for the first time since the 2015 season, going 3-1 against the Liberty League title contenders in the home-and-home series.
 
More importantly, the Saxons finish the season as the third seed in the Empire 8 Conference standings after Russell Sage College swept Elmira College this afternoon. AU will host the sixth-seeded Soaring Eagles in the Empire 8 Play-In game on Saturday, May 8 at 2 p.m. More information about the contest will be available on Friday.
 
"Our pitchers were great today and gave us a chance to win both games," said head coach Luke Wesneski. "We just didn't string enough hits together between both games to establish much momentum, so hats off to Ithaca and their pitching staff. That's a really good team to play late in the season. I'm proud of how Arden responded after taking a hard line-drive to the leg, as she came back and shut them out the rest of the way. Elena had a big hit for us in game one and [junior infielder] Mara Moore (Torrance, CA/West) called two outstanding games behind the plate."
 
GAME ONE
 
The Saxons once again scored early, tallying their 60^th first inning run of the season. Hits by junior infielder Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) and junior outfielder Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) put runners on second and third. A few batters later, junior infielder Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) knocked a two-out single into right center, scoring Lugo for the opening run.
 
Both teams traded zeros until the fourth inning. With the bases empty and one out, Ceja cranked an 0-1 pitch beyond the left field wall for a solo home run, her second home run of the season as the Saxons led 2-0.
 
Wilcox flummoxed the Bomber batters all afternoon, pushing a no-hit performance into the seventh inning. The Bombers staged a late rally; with one out in the seventh, Julia Loffredo broke up the no-hitter with a single between the diving third baseman and shortstop. After stealing second, Kailey Collins got Ithaca on the board with an RBI single past first base, cutting the Ithaca deficit in half, 2-1. Wilcox collected herself, getting Collins out at second base to finish the game.
 
Wilcox improved to 14-3 with the two-hit performance, striking out 10 batters. Ithaca starter Beth Fleming fell to 9-5, striking out 11 in a complete-game effort.
 
Offensively, the Saxons tallied six hits in the game one victory, with Lugo, Guitron, O'Toole, Ceja, Wilcox, and sophomore outfielder Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) each recording a hit.
 
GAME TWO
 
It was Ithaca's turn to score early in game two, tallying two first-inning runs. Loffredo scored the opening run with a sacrifice fly with two runners on with no outs. With Gaffney at the plate, Ithaca scored its second run due to an Alfred wild pitch.
 
Ithaca starter Riley Piromalli frustrated the Saxon batters all afternoon, posting a one-hit performance over seven innings. After giving up a hit to sophomore pitcher and game two starter Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) in the second inning, Piromalli didn't allow a hit the rest of the way, striking out five in seven innings pitched for her 13^th victory of the season.
 
Two Saxon batters reached base over the final six innings: a third-inning walk by Carrillo and a sixth-inning walk by Lugo. The final walk set up AU's best scoring chance, as Lugo stole second and advanced to third base after the leadoff walk. With junior infielder Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) at the plate, she bunted, but the Ithaca defense was there, turning a double play to help Piromalli escape the jam.
 
Hatch shook off the first inning runs and was effective the rest of the way, allowing just two hits the rest of the way. She took the hard-earned loss, allowing two earned on three hits in six innings pitched, striking out six as she fell to 6-2.
 
"Time to get ready for the conference tournament," Wesneski said. "Today was a well-played 14 innings to get us prepared for Saturday!"