REDLANDS, CA – The Alfred University softball team opened the 2023 season with a pair of losses at the University of Redlands on Monday afternoon.
 
The Saxons (0-2, 0-0 Empire 8) were swept in the first game, 4-0 before a late comeback fell short in the nightcap, 9-6. "Today wasn't our best day, but it was our first day. We expect to clean up some things defensively and compete harder in the box as the week progresses," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Hats off to Redlands as they took full advantage of our mistakes and we couldn't really capitalize on some of theirs. We saw some good things in the last inning of game two and hopefully that can carry over against a tough and well-coached Chapman team tomorrow."
 
Game One
Alfred University – 0 | University of Redlands – 4
 
The Saxons totaled two hits with no batters walked in during the first game. Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) was credited with the loss, giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out two batters. Vanessa Reed (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro) came in for the final inning, giving up one hit and one earned run during the five batters she faced.
 
Redlands scored two runs in the bottom of the first with what would ultimately be the game-winning run scored off a double to center field.
 
Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) and Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) were the two Saxons to record hits in the game.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 6 | University of Redlands – 9
 
After giving up three early runs in the bottom of the first, the Saxons battled back to within one run, scoring runs in the top of the second and third innings. A big five-run, bottom of the fourth inning for the Bulldogs (7-4, 1-1 SCIAC) put them up, 8-2. Both teams scored runs in the fifth inning to make it 9-3 in favor of the hosts. The Saxons gave one final push with three runs in the top of the seventh but the comeback was closed down just after two hours of play for the nightcap.
 
Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) was the first Saxon to record a run on the 2023 season when Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) walked and advanced to second when the Bulldog catcher tried to pick off Carrillo. The throw to second was mishandled that allowed Lawson to get to second and Carrillo to round third and slide across home plate in the top of the second inning.
 
Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) singled to left field in the top of the third to send Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) home for the second run for AU.
 
The Saxons score for the fifth inning was when Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) got to home on an error by the right fielder for Redlands.
 
AU's biggest scoring inning was the seventh. Wells doubled to right center field to drive home Lugo and then O'Toole. She then raced home when Neto singled down the right field line.
 
The Saxon batters were able to sit more in the box as they watched ball-four go by seven times while only striking out twice in the nightcap. Wells was 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run.
 
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) was credited with the loss as she struck out one batter and gave up seven hits and eight earned runs in 4.0 innings.
 
The Saxons will next head to Orange, CA to face Chapman University in a double-header on Tuesday, March 7 with the first pitch at 6:00pm (3:00pm PST).