HOUGHTON, NY - The Alfred University baseball team wrapped up their weekend with a pair of conference losses to SUNY Poly on Saturday. 

The Saxons (3-15, 1-5 Empire 8) lost the first game in 20-3 fashion, while dropping the second game in a competitive 15-12 outing. 

Game 1

Derek Vlietstra (Otisville, NY/Minisink Valley) started on the mound for Alfred University, striking out four batters across 4.1 innings. The Saxons relied on three different pitchers as part of their relief efforts. 

The first run for AU came in the fourth inning, as Jack Grider (Stafford, VA/Brooke Point) brought home Noah Madueno (Florence, AZ/Florence) with an RBI single to right field. In the final inning, Jeff Petrozzini (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) registered a pair of RBI with a double, but the deficit was too much to overcome for Alfred University. 

Game 2

Keith Mintschenko (West Grove, PA/Avon Grove) pitched well on the mound for AU to begin the second leg of the doubleheader, striking out four batters across 4.2 innings. Mintschenko tossed three consecutive scoreless innings to begin the contest. 

The Saxons were the first to get on the scoreboard in the third inning, as Benjamin Weimer (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) recorded an RBI single to bring home Benjamin Croote (Middleburgh, NY/Middleburgh). RBI singles from Ashton Colunio (Elmira, NY/Edison) and Michael Ciardiello (Rutherford, NJ/Moore Catholic) in the same inning extended the lead for AU. The Wildcats scored six runs between the fifth and sixth innings to force the Saxons to play from behind. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Croote put the ball in play and allowed Anthony Cortez (South Gate, CA/International Studies Learning Center) to cross home plate. Alfred University tied the game in the following inning, as a single down the right field line brought home Nolan Pridmore (Toronto, ON, Canada/Etobicoke Collegiate Institute). The Saxons took the lead once again following a sacrifice bunt from Will Timpano (Orillia, ON, Canada/Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School). 

SUNY Poly added three more runs to take back the advantage in the eighth inning. In the bottom half of the inning, a wild pitch allowed Petrozzini to score from third base, cutting the deficit for AU. Fielding errors and passed balls gave the Saxons a two-run lead going into the ninth inning. The Wildcats relied on six runs in the final inning to come away with the late win. 

Alfred University will next travel to face Utica University for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 PM.