CLERMONT, FL – The Alfred University softball team picked up two more wins in Florida during its third day of competition for 2025, defeating both opponents with the mercy rule on Tuesday.

The Saxons (5-1, 0-0 Empire 8) toppled undefeated Penn State Brandywine in five innings, 12-2 and then passed Saint Joseph's College of Maine in six innings, 14-6. "I thought the girls responded well today after a tough lopsided loss yesterday," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "We brought the bats and things are always easier when the sticks show up! We need to stay away from the big inning and find a way to get outs. If we can do that moving forward, we will be a better team. Our pitchers were spot on today and it was nice being able to give them some run support so they could pitch a little more relaxed. Looking forward to a day of rest tomorrow before we play four really tough and well-coached teams on Thursday and Friday."

Game One (5 Innings)
Alfred University – 12 | Penn State Brandywine – 2

The Saxons were only behind after one half inning of play as Brandywine scored in the top of the first. Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) smashed a homer to left field to bring home Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) to take the lead, 2-1 in the bottom of the inning. Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) singled up the middle in the bottom of the second inning to send Delaney Prather (North East, PA/North East) home for what would prove to be the game-winning run.

Brandywine pushed back in the top of the third with a run, but all hopes were crushed by the Saxon bats and defense as the Lions never crossed home plate again, while the Saxons added nine runs on the board.

Whitmyer opened the inning with a solo home run to left centerfield for the 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third. Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) recorded a sacrificed fly to bring home Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) to make it a three-run lead. Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) singled up the middle to send Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) home, putting AU up, 6-2. The biggest crush to Penn State occurred just two at-bats later.

With Prather on third base, Martinez on Second and Vidal on first, Remm demolished a shot over the right field fence for the first grand slam of the year, putting the Saxons up, 10-2.

For fun, AU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Neto singled to left centerfield, sending Sabrina Diaz (West Palm Beach, FL/Forest Hill) to home plate and Martinez got another RBI single, sending a shot to right field to bring Steward home again.

Remm's four RBI and Whitmyer's three led the way for AU. Both also crossed home plate twice to go along with Steward and Prather. Neto and Martinez both joined Remm and Whitmyer as the Saxons with multiple RBI. Prather and Martinez combined for three stolen bases in the game.

Steward picked up her third win of the year as she struck out batters nine times.

Game Two (6 Innings)
Saint Joseph's College of Maine – 6 | Alfred University – 14

The Saxons had a dominant hold on game two after three and a half innings, being up 7-0. The Monks put six on the board in the bottom of the fourth, but after a pitching change, the Saxons' Loretta Sorochty (Batavia, NY/Nortre Dame Batavia) was credited with the win after Steward came in for the save inside of the pitching circle. Steward came in with the tying run on deck with bases loaded, gave up one run but closed out the rest of the game with another six strikeouts for her first collegiate save.

The technical game-winning run was scored in the top of the third inning when Remm grounded out to second base, giving Neto the opportunity to cross home plate for the 7-0 lead. After Saint Joseph's pushed back to make it an 8-6 Saxon lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Saxon bats went on a tear to put the score out of reach and initiate the eight-run, mercy rule.

Diaz tripled to right centerfield that drove Wark home in the top of the fifth inning. She later crossed home plate when Whitmyer singled through the left side to make it a 9-6 lead for AU.

In the top of the sixth, Prather doubled to left field and advanced to third on the throw to home, attempting to get Neto out as she slid home, making it 10-6 in favor of the purple and gold. Prather jogged home after a Wark single up the middle and Whitmyer mashed her third home run of the day when she cleared the bases, occupied by Wark and Remm, making it 14-6.

The Saxons now have eight home runs on the season as Whitmyer has four, Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) has two and both Remm and Neto each have cleared the fence once.

The Saxons will next take a day's rest before facing #17 nationally-ranked, Berry College (Ga.) on Thursday, March 13 at 11:30am at Hancock Park and North Central College at 2:00pm.