WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Alfred University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday evening in its first outing in the northern states in 2022, winning the nightcap against Lycoming College.
 
The Saxons (4-5, 0-0 Empire 8) dropped the first game, 6-3 before opening up the scoring in the second, defeating the Warriors (4-6), 13-3 in five innings. "We are still figuring some things out after the five cancelled games in Florida but I thought we responded well game two and got back to playing Alfred softball and making things happen," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "A lot of great efforts all around today and a real team effort. We will get back to work and figure out what we need to better against Wilkes on Friday. Congratulations to [Ashley] Lugo on stealing her 100th base! A great feat indeed!"
 
Game One
Alfred University – 3  |  Lycoming College – 6
 
AU struck first in the top of the first as Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) hit a single to center field to bring Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) home. The Warriors responded with three runs in the bottom of the third off a home run. Lycoming scored what would ultimately be the game-winning run in the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle and tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Saxons pushed back as Mejia drove Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) and Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) home with a single to right in the top of the sixth.
 
Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) struck out five batters in the loss.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 13  |  Lycoming College – 3
 
AU and Lycoming began the game tied up at 1-1 after the first inning before the Saxon bats came alive in the top of the third and fifth innings to secure the mercy-rule win. Alfred scored four runs in the third inning and eight in the fifth.
 
Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills), Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon), Wells and Mejia all crossed home plate with unearned runs as Wells' score from the Raygan Wescott (Taft, CA/Taft Union) single to centerfield wound up as the game-winning score. Wells singled to bring Lawson home in the top of the third. Guitron scored when Mejia reached first on a fielder's choice play. Meji scored when Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) smacked a double to centerfield, making it a 5-1 game in favor of the Saxons.
 
AU went on a scoring spree in the top of the fifth as Wells, Mejia, Wescott, Neto, Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis), Lugo, Lawson and Guitron all scored in that inning.
 
With bases loaded and no outs, Neto walked, shifting Wells from third to home. Then, Hatch doubled to left center field, bringing Mejia and Wescott home. Lawson singled to bring Neto across the plate. Hatch scored when Guitron walked with bases loaded. Lugo and Lawson scored off an error by the Lycoming catcher, making it a 12-1 game. Guitron was the last to cross home plate when Mejia grounded out to third.
 
AU totaled 11 hits and 12 RBI in the nightcap. Lugo stole three bases in the second game on Tuesday with the third being her 100^th collegiate career stolen base. Guitron, Mejia, Neto and Hatch all had two RBI in the game as Lugo, Guitron, Wells, Mejia and Lawson all crossed home plate twice.
 
Hatch picked up the win in the circle with five strikeouts and only four hits.
 
The Saxons will next travel to Wilkes University on Friday, March 25 for a 4:00pm and 6:00pm doubleheader.