ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team swept Medaille University on Wednesday evening in a conference double-header and by the end of game two, earned a place in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament.
 
The Saxons (21-11-1, 11-1 Empire 8) blew up the scoreboard late in the opening game for a 13-1 victory off of 15 hits. In game two, the Mavericks (12-16, 3-7 Empire 8) kept things interesting up to the end with a late push, but the Saxon defense powered-down the threat for the 3-1 win. AU is now on an eight-game win streak. "A conference sweep is a conference sweep. You don't get style points for them, you just have to be the one standing in the end," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "Our pitchers were very good today and we hit in spurts. I wish we could have given some more run support to Bennett in game two, but our defense came through and helped us out! We have a short turnaround and then two tough conference double-headers this weekend. Time to dig deep!"
 
Game One
Alfred University – 13 | Medaille – 1
 
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) continued her dominance inside of the circle, only giving up two hits, one earned run and a walk while striking Maverick batters out seven times. She is now 11-4 on the season and 6-0 against Empire 8 opponents.
 
The Saxons totaled eight stolen bases in the game, led by Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) and her three steals. Molly Lawson (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills) followed with two while Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter), Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) and Ty Thomas (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) each added one.
 
Inside of the batters' box, Carrillo was a perfect, 4-for-4 with one RBI and one run. Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs. Lugo went 1-for-5 with three runs and two RBI. Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) added two RBI along with Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) and her two RBI. Thomas and Lawson each scored twice while driving in runs. Remm and Gatza both had extra base hits as they each recorded doubles in the opener.
 
After Lugo scored an unearned run in the top of the third and Medaille responded with a single RBI in the bottom of the fourth, knotting up the score, 1-1, AU went on a spree in the final two innings, totaling 12 runs. Wells drove home Lawson for the game-winning run with a single through the right side of the field. Lugo singled down the left field line to bring wells home before Gatza hit a sacrificed fly to left field to bring Lugo home for the 4-1 lead after six innings.
 
The Saxons scored six runs in the top of the seventh before the first out was made by the Maverick defense. Wells singled to right field to bring pinch-runner, Thomas home as well as Lawson, upping the lead to 6-1. Lugo put down a bunt, reaching first on the catcher's decision to try to check Carrillo, only to realize the speedy senior was already across the plate for the 7-1 lead. Remm then cleared the Saxons off the bases with a double to left center field, bringing Wells and Lugo in. Gatza followed with her double to score Remm, making it 10-1 before the first out was recorded.
 
Thomas, in her first at-bat of the day, singled a flop shot to center field that pushed Neto to third and sent Gatza home, making it a 10-run lead, 11-1. Lawson's sacrificed fly was enough for Neto to cross the plate, just before Carrillo's fourth hit of the game also recorded her first RBI of the day, sending Thomas home for the final run of the game.
 
The Saxon defense made no errors in the game.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 3 | Medaille – 1
 
Unlike the first game, the Saxons were hot to start the first part of the nightcap, putting all three of their runs on the board in the top of the first. Wells opened up the game with a double to left centerfield, stole to third base and attempted to sprint home on a mishandling of the ball. Wells was ruled safe at home due to obstruction by the Maverick catcher for the 1-0 lead. Lugo walked during the next play, quickly making her way around the bases as she stole second and then stole third. Remm grounded out to second as Lugo scored the game-winning run on the play.
 
Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) singled up the middle with bases clear. She then stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian) singled during her at-bat and advanced to second when there was an attempt to retire O'Toole at home. O'Toole beat out the throw for the 3-0 lead.
 
An RBI single in the bottom of the third was the only score of the game for the Mavericks and only the second run of the entire day, despite the last-inning push to at least force extra innings. After a 1-2-3 top of the inning from the Saxons and Medaille defense, the Mavericks got started with a single up the middle. After a double-play was called back due to the ball being ruled to have entered foul territory, Medaille had runners on first and second after a misplay on a high grounder. The first out was made on a fielder's choice as Wells threw out the runner at second, leaving Mavericks on first and third with one out.
 
A pop up to Lugo at shortstop and a fly ball caught by Remm in right field closed the inning and the series sweep for AU.
 
The hit numbers stayed low for both teams in the nightcap with AU holding the 9-4 advantage. Lawson was 2-for-3 with a double and O'Toole was 2-for-4 with a run, leading the Saxon batters. On the bases, Lugo had two of the four stolen bases, followed by Wells and O'Toole with one each.
 
Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) went the distance with seven strikeouts, four hits, one walk and one earned run. No Saxons were retired due to striking out.
 
The Saxons will next face Utica University on Saturday, April 29 with games starting at 1:00pm and 3:00pm from Utica, NY.