ALFRED, NY – Following an appearance in the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, the Alfred University softball team is gearing up for another successful spring season. The Saxons will welcome a number of returning student-athletes and first-year talents.
Alfred University will be led by Head Coach
Luke Wesneski, who is entering his ninth season with the program.
"We had a veteran-based team last season, but the expectations are always high," Wesneski said. "We accomplished some of our goals last spring, but having great leadership is the key going into every season."
The Saxons ended last season with a 25-14-1 overall record, including a stellar 14-2 record in Empire 8 competition. AU won five of their final six E8 matchups to earn the No. 1 seed in the conference standings.
"We're not comparing this year's team to the previous years," Wesneski said. "Every year brings something new. This team still has goals, and we continue to discuss about what success looks like for us."
Behind the plate,
Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian) has been named as one of three team captains. Orozco finished last season with a .347 batting average that included four doubles.
The infield will be led by
Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California), who was named to the All-Empire 8 First Team following the 2023 season. Wells finished last season with a career-high .389 batting average with a team-high seven home runs.
Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) is also among the returners and will see time at third base for the Saxons. Gatza finished her junior season with 28 hits, including five home runs.
"Mya offers so many different things as an athletic first baseman," Wesneski said. "Her power, speed strength, and ability to drive in runs is impressive. Abby has made a great transition to third base for us. She has great discipline and offers a lot of power in our lineup."
The outfield will include the likes of
Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) and
Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter). Remm was named as the 2023 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, finishing the year with an impressive .411 batting average across 141 at-bats. Remm will serve as a team captain for Alfred University and was named as the Empire 8 Softball Player to Watch. Neto is entering her junior season with the Saxons. Last spring, she recorded 33 hits and 22 RBI.
"Jess is always motivated to get better each day," Wesneski said. "She offers speed and power in our lineup and we're confident we haven't seen the best of her. Meghan has shown improvement over the course of the offseason. She is extremely driven, and we're excited to see what she brings to the table this spring."
Pitching for the Saxons has been a strength over the years, with
Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) set to return for her senior season. She has been honored with All-Conference recognition in each of the past three years. Last season, Bennett totaled 82 strikeouts across 91.1 innings pitched for AU.
"This is the first time in almost three years that Megan will be fully healthy," Wesneski said. "Kendall and Delaney will be involved as well. Ty and Mikaela are some of our veterans that can provide some quality innings this spring."
Alfred University will begin their spring season in Florida on Sunday, March 3 against Otterbein University and Adrian College as part of a double-header matchup. Empire 8 competition for the Saxons will start on April 5 when the team hosts Nazareth University. The Empire 8 Championship Tournament is slated to run from May 7-11.
"The biggest thing is watching our team come together with the new faces," Wesneski said. "We will continue to grow over the course of the season and the results will follow. We're looking forward to playing some quality softball."
