HOUGHTON, NY – The Alfred University softball team dropped a close game one to Houghton College on Thursday evening on the road in Empire 8 action before making a comeback win in the nightcap.
 
The Saxons (15-12, 6-2 Empire 8) dropped game one, in a close battle, 4-3 to the Highlanders (16-15, 4-6 Empire 8) before coming back from a 3-0 deficit to win a 5-3 nightcap. Thursday's loss to Houghton was the first in school history, since play against them started in 2012.
 
Game One
Alfred University – 3  |  Houghton College – 4
 
The Saxons played from behind the entire game, tying the score once at 3-3 when Tatiana Mejia (North Hills, CA/John F. Kennedy) hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. The game-winning score came in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrificed flyball to center field.
 
Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) scored first for AU when Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) hit a double to center field in the top of the second inning after the Saxons gave up a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Houghton tacked on their third run when a batter was hit by a Saxon pitch in the bottom of the second for the 3-1 lead.
 
Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) hit her first home run of the season in the top of the third, prior to Mejia's homer in the fourth.
 
Not a single player from either team had more than one hit in game one as Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis), despite the loss, fanned eight batters while only one Saxon was struck out. Hatch also only had two earned runs added to her season in the 4-3 loss.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 5  |  Houghton College – 3
 
The Saxons faced a 3-0 deficit after two innings of play and the score remained that way until the top of the sixth inning as AU piled on four runs for its first lead of the day.
 
Raygan Wescott (Taft, CA/Taft Union) hit a single to right field that allowed Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) and Wells to score. Neto tied the game and drove in the game-winning run as she brought Mejia home from third base to make it 3-3, and pinch-runner, Darby McEnery (Corona, CA/Norco) home from second after she replaced Wescott and stole second base. McEnery crossing home was the ultimate go-ahead run but that didn't stop the Saxons from tacking on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) got to home plate when the Highlander second baseman made an error on what would have been the third out of the inning, attempting to get Wells out at first.
 
Mikaela Perez (Pomona, CA/Diamond Ranch) picked up the win for AU in the circle as she struck out three batters. Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) earned her first collegiate save as she pitched the remaining two innings after AU gained the 4-3 while retiring all six batters she faced! Only three Saxons were struck out in the nightcap.
 
The Saxons will enjoy the weekend of rest as they will next return to Harrington Field to take on the Bengals of Buffalo State on Tuesday, April 19 with game times of 3:00pm and 5:00pm in non-conference action.