HOUGHTON, NY - The Alfred University baseball team wrapped up their first weekend of Empire 8 conference competition with a split doubleheader against Houghton University on Sunday. 

The Saxons (3-12, 1-2 Empire 8) picked up their first E8 win in program history in 6-5 fashion, while dropping the second leg of the doubleheader, 8-1. 

Game 1

Alex Beaird (Oswego, IL/Oswego) pitched well on the mound for Alfred University, striking out three batters across a complete game effort. 

The Highlanders (10-4, 2-1 Empire 8) built themselves a 5-0 lead across the first five innings of action to force AU to play from behind. In the sixth inning, a leadoff single by Brayden Bedingfield (Seabrook, TX/Clear Falls) was followed by a two-run home run by Jeff Petrozzini (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) to put Alfred University on the scoreboard. 

Later in the inning, pitching miscues by Houghton allowed Jack Grider (Stafford, VA/Brooke Point) to cross home plate and cut the deficit further. Two batters later, Zach Russell (Puling, NY/ Cairo-Durham) forced a walk with the bases loaded, bringing home Nolan Pridmore (Toronto, ON, Canada/Etobicoke Collegiate Institute). A sacrifice fly by Tyler Mulholland (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) tied the game for Alfred University. 

In the top of the seventh inning, the Saxons relied on Grider to reach on an error and later score thanks to a fielder's choice forced by Angelo DeFilippis (Staten Island, NY/Moore Catholic) for their first lead of the afternoon. In the bottom half of the inning, Beaird retired three straight batters to give AU their first conference win of the spring season. 

Game 2

Derek Vlietstra (Otisville, NY/Minisink Valley) got the initial start for AU, as he struck out six batters across six innings of action. 

Petrozzini continued to find success at the plate in the second leg of the doubleheader, recording a base hit for Alfred University in the first inning. Houghton answered with their first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning for the initial lead. The next inning, a pass ball allowed Noah Madueno (Florence, AZ/Florence) to score and tie the game. 

Petrozzini and Primore each recorded one more base hit to close out the afternoon, but Houghton relied on runs in four different innings to extend their advantage and come away with the victory. 

Alfred University will next travel to face Pitt-Bradford for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 1:00 PM.