ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team swept Houghton University in Empire 8 action on Saturday afternoon, after facing one rain delay and finishing game two before the second way of impeding weather hit Harrington Field.
 
The Saxons (17-11-1, 9-1 Empire 8) and the Highlanders (7-24, 1-9 Empire 8) faced an early, first inning rain delay during game one that looked to extend the game time, threatening game two to be a complete game. AU's offense and defense made up for the delay by closing out a 9-0, five-inning win. In the nightcap, with the rain clouds getting closer, the Saxons picked up the sweep with a six-inning, 9-1 victory just as the sky opened up and poured during post-game raking. Saturday was also the Saxons' Senior Day, honoring their own seniors as well as Houghton's seniors.

"What more could you ask for than back-to-back conference double-header sweeps on Hotdog Day Weekend as we celebrate all of our seniors and graduate students? Our pitching was outstanding today and our offense was able to grind out runs on a day that wasn't our best offensive performance," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "I'm proud of all the girls as they brought the energy today to celebrate some wonderful young ladies who believed in Alfred four years ago and it has paid off for all of them! Hats off to Coach Muise at Houghton for agreeing to bump the games to noon today so we could get them in when other teams were canceling. Looking forward to a couple days of rest before back-to-back trips to Buffalo and an important conference doubleheader at Medaille!"
 
Game One
Alfred University – 9 | Houghton – 0
 
The Saxons scored one run in each of the first opening innings before piling on seven scores in the third to pick up the win. Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) only allowed two hits in her shutout win, walking an additional two but striking out batters six times. Offensively, Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) and Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) had identical stat lines for the most part. Both went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run each and both had doubles while Lugo had a triple and Gatza hit a home run. Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) added another double for the game as her and Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) both had two runs each to lead AU.
 
In the bottom of the first inning, Lugo grounded out to the Houghton short stop but it gave the time for Wells to cross home plate for the game-winning run. In the bottom of the second, Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) walked, but due to a wild pitch, Neto was able to advance to third. With both Neto and Carrillo off the bags, a throw to trap Carrillo in a rundown between first and second was sent to the Houghton second baseman, who decided to try to throw Neto out at third, resulting in a wide throw, giving second base to Carrillo while Neto crossed home plate.
 
With the 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the third, Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) singled down the left field line, giving Lugo the time to score from second base. Gatza hit her home run during the next at-bat, sending it down the left field line to the awaiting Saxons student fan section as AU went up 5-0.
 
Carrillo, still in the third, reached third base because of a bad throw to first base by the Houghton third baseman. On the same play, Neto would cross home plate, followed by Raygan Ashmore (Taft, CA/Taft Union) for the 7-0 lead. Wells then singled to the shortstop to send Carrillo home from third. She then scored the ninth run when Lugo tripled to left center field.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 9 | Houghton – 1
 
The Saxon bats stayed hot in game two as they totaled 12 hits compared to Houghton's five hits. Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) picked up the win with five hits, five strikeouts and the one earned run, coming in the third inning as the lone Highlander score of the day. AU totaled seven stolen bases in the nightcap, led by Lugo with four.
 
AU struck first in the first when Remm singled just up and over the third baseman, sending Wells across the plate. Remm then stole second and in an attempt to throw out Lugo at third base, the shortstop's throw went too low and hit the bag, deflected the ball down the left field line and out of play, sending Lugo home and giving Remm to slide in another run.
 
Carrillo slapped a spinning ball into the dirt, giving pinch-runner, Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) the time to cross the plate. Carrillo stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up a sacrificed flyout by Wells to center field for the 5-1 advantage. Lugo singled to left field and then stole second, allowing yet another Remm RBI, singling to left field for the 6-1 advantage.
 
Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) singled to center field and advanced to second on the throw to home. The play scored Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) but the throw-out prevented Vanessa Reed (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro) from what would have been the eighth run of the game. Instead, the eighth run came during the next at-bat as Alexa Woluewich (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South) grounded out to second base, but not before Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian) put the Saxons ahead, 8-1.
 
Gatza singled to center field to bring home Lugo in the bottom of the sixth inning, closing out the game with the mercy rule and completing the conference sweep.
 
The Saxons will next take to the road for three double-headers, including two Empire 8 matchups. AU will start that tour with a non-conference double-header at Fredonia on Tuesday, April 25 with games starting at 3:00pm and 5:00pm.