ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team upped its win streak to six but was halted with a game two loss to Ithaca College in a non-conference double-header on Wednesday evening from Harrington Field.
 
The Saxons (9-9-1, 3-1 Empire 8) won game one, 3-2 with the third walk-off hit in a row from Harrington, defeating the Bombers (12-5-1, 0-0 Liberty League). In the nightcap, a big scoring effort in the top of the third inning and continued runs after gave Ithaca the advantage and the win, 9-7.
 
"Ithaca is always a great double-header and they are always tight games," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We enjoy keeping them on the schedule for that reason and to leave with a split and two hard fought games is confidence for us moving forward. I thought we handled their pitchers pretty well and they have two great arms! We came up with some key hits when we needed them. Game two was a bit sloppy on both sides and we just couldn't put enough together to win, but we saw some wonderful things from all of our girls. Looking forward to Friday!"
 
Game One
Alfred University – 3  |  Ithaca – 2
 
Ithaca got off to an early, 2-0 start in the top of the first inning, but the Saxon defense, led by pitcher, Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) and catcher, Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian), kept the Bombers from scoring for the rest of the game.
 
AU responded with a Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) solo home run in the bottom of the inning. They then tied it up in the bottom of the fourth inning when Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) singled to the center field, bringing pinch runner, Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) home to the 2-2 score.
 
AU's defense, facing two runners on base with one out in the top of the seventh, closed out what would be the last chance for Ithaca to score. The second to last batter flew out to Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) as she also checked the runner at second. The last Bomber batter grounded out to Lawson at second base as she threw to Wells at first base for the third out.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Wells singled to left field to start off. Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) sacrificed bunted Wells to second base for the first out. Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) popped up to the second baseman, right next to the bag to prevent Wells from advancing and gathering the second out of the inning. Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter), facing the two-out situation, singled to right field that gave Wells the time needed to cross home plate for the go-ahead score, closing out the game, 3-2.
 
The duo of pitcher, Hatch and catcher, Orozco totaled a series-high five strikeouts. Hatch had more strikeouts on the day than any other pitcher. She gave up four hits and one earned run while walking three batters. Hatch is now 5-3 on the season.
 
Lawson and Neto's lone hits resulted in their RBI. Wells was 2-for-4 with two runs and the RBI from diving herself home. Hatch was a perfect, 2-for-2 from the batters' box.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 7  |  Ithaca – 9
 
The Saxons were out-hit in the nightcap, 14-5, but despite that stat line, kept the score throughout the seven innings. AU had the early, 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning when Wells scored on a throwing error by the Ithaca pitcher, trying to throw out Lugo at first after the sacrificed bunt attempt to move Wells to second base. Lugo made it safely to third on the play after the bad throw. Remm singled to center field to bring Lugo home.
 
The top of the third, Ithaca put up five runs including three before the first out of the inning. Facing the deficit, the Saxons responded to narrow the lead in the bottom of the inning. Neto grounded out to the pitcher which gave Lugo the time required to reach home. Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) laid down a sacrificed bunt to the pitcher that opened up the window for Remm to cross home, making it a 5-3 game in favor of the Bombers.
 
Both teams followed with two-run parts of the fourth inning, making it a 7-6 game in favor of the visitors, who tacked on another run in the fifth inning. Both teams scored runs in the sixth inning as neither scored in the seventh, closing out the game and ending AU's win streak.
 
The Saxons will next host Ithaca College in a non-conference double-header on Wednesday, April 12 with game times of 3:00pm and 5:00pm.