ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team swept Keuka College in Empire 8 action on Friday evening from Harrington Field during the team's Cancer Awareness Pink Games.
 
The Saxons (11-9-1, 5-1 Empire 8) shut out the Wolves (5-15, 0-6 Empire 8), playing a total of 10 innings on the day. In game one, AU took a 10-0 win, scoring in all four innings at-bat. The story was nearly the same for the nightcap, not missing an inning of scoring as they rolled to an 11-0 victory.
 
"The girls came out and played well today and on a day that was for a great cause," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "The bats came alive and our pitchers took care of the rest. I was proud of them all and they all contributed in one way or another. They have a well-deserved weekend off before getting after in next week with four double-headers!"
 
Game One
Alfred University – 10 | Keuka – 0
 
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) was one hit away from a no-hitter as she struck out a season-best nine batters, throwing one wild pitch and giving up the one hit. In her 4.0 innings, only three outs weren't credited to her. Mikaela Perez (Pomona, CA/Diamond Ranch) came in for relief in the final inning, tallying one strikeout and two fly-outs.
 
In the bottom of the first, Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) drove in what would be the game-winning run, sending Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) across the plate. Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian) added a two RBI single down the left field line to bring home Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) and O'Toole.
 
AU tacked on a run in the second as Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) singled to right center field to score Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) and to make it 4-0. Lawson then sent the first run in during the bottom of the third, scoring Orozco with a sacrificed fly-out to left field. That opened the flood gates as Alfred would put up another three runs in the inning to make it 8-0. Remm had her second triple of her collegiate career that cleared the loaded bases, filled by (in order of crossing home plate) Darby McEnery (Corona, CA/Corona), Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) and Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills). All four runs in the third inning were unearned.
 
An error by the Wolves' center fielder in the bottom of the fourth inning allowed Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) and Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) to cross home plate when Lawson sent a high ball out to left field.
 
AU totaled 11 hits in the opening game as Remm, Orozco and Gatza all had two, Remm going a perfect, 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run. Lawson also had three RBI and a run in her 1-for-2 performance. The Saxons were perfect defensively with no errors.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 11 | Keuka – 0
 
Hatch picked up her second win of the day and her second shutout of the day inside of the pitchers' circle. She gave up three hits and walked her first batter of the day while also tallying another five strikeouts. She only pitched 49 pitches in 3.0 innings.
 
The Saxons totaled 14 hits in the nightcap, led by Wells and her 3-for-3, four RBI and two-run performance. Both games were enough to bring Wells back to batting .500 on the season. She scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the first inning when Remm grounded out to the pitcher, deciding that she didn't have the time to throw Wells out at home.
 
Gatza extended the lead with the day's lone home run, sending the ball into the left field bleachers and bringing Orozco home for the 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Well followed that with a single down the right field line, driving home Lawson and Carrillo. She then got her second run of the day when Neto singled down the left field line. O'Toole closed out the inning with her first triple of the season that scored Lugo and Neto for the 8-0 lead after only two innings of play.
 
Wells, just like she did in the second inning, hit a single down the white line but this time, down the right field line for a two-RBI score, sending Gatza and Carrillo home in the bottom of the third and upping the score to 10-0.
 
With bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth, a wild pitch opened the window for O'Toole to score the final run of Friday.
 
The Saxons will next play double-headers in non-Empire 8 action as they host Penn State Behrend on Tuesday, April 18 at 3:00pm and 5:00pm before traveling the next day up to Buffalo State with the game times set the same.