ALFRED, NY – First year infielder Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) hit a clutch two-run single in the sixth inning and graduate pitcher Jessica Wilcox (Forestville, NY/Pine Valley) pitched a complete-game shutout, leading the way as the third-seeded Alfred University softball team advanced in the Empire 8 Tournament, downing sixth-seeded Elmira 2-0 from Harrington Field on a wet Saturday afternoon.
 
The Saxons (28-8) advance to the double elimination portion of the tournament and they will take on No. 2 Sage on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., from the campus of St. John Fisher College. The Saxons also win their first postseason game against the Soaring Eagles in their second matchup all-time. Elmira finishes the season at 6-21.
 
"We played just well enough to win today and we are all grateful to advance and move forward in the tourney," said head coach Luke Wesneski. "We have a few things to work on before playing Sage. Jess kept us in the game today and gave us an opportunity to win at the end. Elmira left it all on the field today and played one heck of a game. Hats off to Randy [Torgalski] and his staff.
 
"We look forward to getting back to work on Monday and figuring a few things out and hopefully playing our best softball this upcoming week."
 
It was a duel between Wilcox and Elmira starting pitcher Ally Barr in this game, as the two hurlers traded zeros all afternoon. The Saxons threatened to score in the bottom of the second inning, as junior infielder Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) hit a one-out double to the center field fence, and Wilcox beat out a throw from the shortstop for an infield single, putting O'Toole at third base. Barr then forced senior outfielder Sydney Saucedo (Whittier, CA/La Serna) to ground out to end the threat.
 
Elmira got its first hit of the game in the fourth inning, on a two-out single up the middle by Alex Brockhuizen. Hannah Flagg then walked, putting a runner in scoring position. Wilcox got out of the jam, striking out Janie Kempf to end the threat.
 
The Saxons were put in a similar position in the fifth, as two out singles by Barr and Paige Cring put another runner in scoring position. Once again, Wilcox struck out a player to end the inning, with Felicity Brockhuizen going down looking with a well-placed pitch.
 
AU finally broke through in the sixth. A leadoff single by junior Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) and an infield single by junior outfielder Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) put runners on with no outs. Junior infielder Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for the rookie with runners at second and third base. Wells delivered, with a one-out single up the middle, scoring Lugo and Guitron to give the Saxons a 2-0 lead.
 
The runs were more than enough for Wilcox, who set down the Elmira batters in order in the top of the seventh inning, ending the game. Wilcox picked up her 14^th victory of the season, allowing just three hits over seven innings pitched and striking out 13 batters while walking just one. Barr (6-13) took the loss, but was solid, allowing two earned on five hits, striking out a pair of Saxon batters.
 
More information on Alfred's Empire 8 Tournament contest on Tuesday will be available on Monday.