WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Alfred University softball team opened its northern schedule with a doubleheader split with Lycoming College in non-conference action on Tuesday evening.
 
The Saxons (6-6, 0-0 Empire 8) won the first game, 4-2 and then fell short of a comeback in the nightcap, dropping an 8-6 decision to the Warriors (7-4, 0-0 Landmark).
 
Game One
Alfred University – 4 | Lycoming College – 2
 
Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) scored first for AU when Mya Wells (San Ramon, CA/California) singled to the shortstop who then made a bad throw that allowed Vidal to round third base and score the opening run in the top of the first inning. Lycoming responded in the same inning by scoring two in the bottom to take the lead.
 
The Saxons tied the game up when Kody Watson (Flagstaff, AZ/Coconino) tripled down the right field line to drive home Isabella Orozco (Burbank, CA/Village Christian) in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Going into the final scheduled inning tied 2-2, Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) hit her first home run of the season for the 3-2 advantage and what would go on to be the game-winning RBI and run. Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) tacked on an insurance score when she singled to bring home Wells for the 4-2 lead.
 
The Saxon defense, led by Megan Bennett (Athens, PA/Athens Area) took things from there as Bennett struck out the first two batters in the inning while the third out came from a flyout to right fielder, Vidal. Bennett totaled six strikeouts in the win with only one earned run being credited to her.
 
Vidal and Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) both had stolen bases in the game. Wells went 3-for-4 with two doubles with Orozco adding another double.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 6 | Lycoming College – 8
 
Despite having an early, 2-0 lead after the first whole inning of play, the Saxons trailed for the majority of the contest. Wells got on the board first with her third homer of the season, smashing a shot that hit the top of the Lycoming video watchtower out in right center field. Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) followed Gatza, who had hit a double to center field, by sailing a ball out deep to center field, where the Warriors' fielder bobbled the ball in and out of her glove on the warning track. Neto was able to reach second base on the error while Gatza was able to get from second to home for the 2-0 advantage.
 
Lycoming responded with three runs in the bottom of the second and another two in the bottom of the third for the 5-2 lead before AU got runners across home plate again.
 
Remm was credited with a single in the top of the fourth but was caught at second when trying to stretch it to a double, but not before Ty Thomas (Bolingbrook, IL/Bolingbrook) and Wark both scored to bring AU within one run, 5-4.
 
Lycoming separated the score more with a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more runs that ultimately led to the win and prevented extra innings in the bottom of the sixth. The Saxons battled back in the top of the seventh with two runs when Wells doubled to left center field to bring home Destiny Avila (Long Beach, CA/St. Anthony) and Remm.
 
Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) was credited with the loss inside of the pitcher's circle as four of the five runs scored were earned. Delaney Prather (North East, PA/North East) came in for relief and struck out one batter while giving up two earned runs out of the three scored during her occupancy inside of the circle.
 
Avila, Wells and Gatza all recorded doubles for the Saxons in the nightcap while Remm stole the only base for AU. Remm, Wells and Gatza all went 2-for-4 and each scored one run. Wells totaled three RBI and Remm had two.
 
The Saxons will have mild rest as they will next travel to SUNY Geneseo for another non-conference doubleheader and it will be the final non-conference doubleheader against the Knights (3-9, 0-0 SUNYAC) with Geneseo joining the Empire 8 next year. The Wednesday, March 27 twin bill is scheduled to start at 3:00pm and 5:00pm.