ALFRED, NY – The No. 1 seeded Alfred University softball team defeated No. 5 seeded Elmira College on Thursday evening, during game two of the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, hosted at Harrington Field.
 
The Saxons (25-12-1, 14-2 Empire 8) advance in the winners' bracket after the 6-0 shutout of the Soaring Eagles (20-18, 8-8 Empire 8), who face No. 3 seeded Russell Sage College on Friday afternoon in the first game of the losers' bracket. The Saxons will take on No. 2 seeded St. John Fisher University at 10:00am on Friday in the winners' bracket, after the Cardinals (26-11, 12-4 Empire 8) shut down the Gators (20-17, 11-5 Empire 8), 9-1 in five innings during game one of the E8 Tournament.

"We made some mental error mistakes that we will need to clean up moving forward but a great effort from Arden today and I am so proud of her," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We had some timely hits and our short game worked well today. Great all-around performance and we are looking forward to a great matchup with Fisher tomorrow!"
 
Arden Hatch (Orangevale, CA/St. Francis) threw her second no-hitter of the season as she struck out Eagle batters 10 times and walked two. Hatch added two assists and one putout while inside of the circle.
 
The Saxon bats totaled nine hits and five earned runs, led by Isabella Carrillo (Van Nuys, CA/Birmingham Community Charter) as she was 3-for-3 with two runs. Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) added two runs and an RBI while Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) went 2-for-3 with a run.
 
On the bases, the Saxons totaled five stolen bases, led by Ashley Lugo (Hesperia, CA/Oak Hills) with two. Wells, Remm and Carrillo all had one steal each. No Elmira player reached second base in the game.
 
Remm was credited with the game-winning run in the bottom of the first, scoring on a single up the middle by Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley). The score remained 1-0 in favor of AU until the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Saxons scored twice in the inning, first as Carrillo, after putting down a single bunt, advanced to second during the next at-bat. Wells hit a shot to left field where it was dropped by the Soaring Eagles' left fielder, Hannah Flagg, giving Carrillo time to get from second to third, and then home for the 2-0 lead. Lugo drove a shot to left center field to score Wells for the only unearned run of the game and the 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, AU tacked on three more insurance runs. Wells walked with Carrillo on third and with some crafty base-running, rounded first, forcing a throw to second, which then came back to home as Carrillo was called safe due to fielder obstruction at home by the catcher. Wells was then safe at third on the same play. She then made it a 5-0 lead when she scored on a wild pitch. Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) flew out to center field, giving Lugo time to tag up and score from third base for the 6-0 lead and win.
 
Hatch closed out the game with a first batter strike out looking, a ground out to Lugo at shortstop and then another strike out looking.