UNION, NJ – The Alfred University softball team scored first but fell to No. 2 seeded Kean University on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, 3-1.

The Saxons (25-15) scored the first run of the NCAA Regional Tournament but the Cougars (31-8) responded with two runs in the bottom of the third and another in the sixth to remain in the winner's bracket.

Alyssa Guitron (San Bernardino, CA/Cajon) hit a single to left center field to bring Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) home for the 1-0 lead in the top of the second for the Saxons' lone score of the day.

Both runs scored by Kean in the third inning were off of bases-loaded situations where the batters where walked, pushing the third base occupants across the plate. The Cougars singled in the sixth for the third run.

Both teams totaled four hits on the day as only two Kean batters recorded hits while four different Saxons combined for their hit total. Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) had the only hit of the day that was credited above a single as she had a double.

AU struck out five batters while four Saxons were sat with strikeouts. Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) was credited with the loss as she struck out one batter and gave up no earned runs. Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) fanned the remaining four batters.

The Saxons will next take on the No. 4 seeded Yellow Jackets of Waynesbug University on Saturday, May 14 at 2:30pm as the Yellow Jackets lost to the No. 1 seed, the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University during game two of Friday's games.