ROCHESTER, NY – The No. 2 seeded Alfred University softball team picked up two more wins during Day Two of the Empire 8 Softball Championship Tournament on Friday, defeating both No. Utica University and No. 1 St. John Fisher University.

The Saxons (31-9, 18-4 Empire 8) defeated the Pioneers (24-11, 17-5 Empire 8) in the opening game of the day, 7-4. They ended the day by sending the Cardinals (28-14, 18-4 Empire 8) to the losers' bracket with a 6-4 win. Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) broke the Alfred University school record, held by former teammate, Megan Bennett '24 for most pitching wins in a single season. She tied the record yesterday against Nazareth University as her 20^th win, then broke the record against Utica with her 21^st victory and added another one against SJFU for her 22^nd win of the season. "It was a great fight today, both games," Steward said. "It was a lot of fun to be a part of and I am so proud of this team!"

"Today was a huge team win, and I am incredibly proud of this program," Graduate Assistant Coach Sarah Ramirez said. "It takes an army and this team's fight and energy is unmatched. The biggest shout out to Kendall on 21 wins this season. There are no words to describe how proud I am of her and Paris [Guzman]. We still have work to do tomorrow, go Saxons and row the boat!"

Game One
Utica University – 4 | Alfred University – 7

The Saxons were the first on the board in the top of the first inning as the designated visitors of the morning game. Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) was the first to cross home plate, followed by Steward as Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) singled to right field. Utica responded with a sacrificed fly in the bottom of the inning to make it a 2-1 Saxon lead.

Delaney Prather (North East, PA/North East) also had a two-RBI single, sending a shot down the right field line that drove home Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) and Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) for a 4-1 lead. The lead was once again infringed upon in the bottom of the inning when Utica put up another run to make it 4-2.

The Saxons put three more runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Remm smashed a two-RBI homer to right field to score Prather, right before Whitmyer doubled to left center field, scoring Steward for the 7-2 lead. Despite the Pioneers putting two runs on the board in the bottom of the inning, the Steward-led Saxon defense held tough and picked up the win. Steward totaled four strikeouts in the game on 105 pitches. The Saxons faced three pitchers and struck out only once.

AU out-hit UU, 14-8.

Game Two
Alfred University – 6 | St. John Fisher University – 4

The Saxons were the home team for the final game of Friday, as Fisher had been the home team in its prior two games. AU was first to score as Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) scurried home when Steward picked up the RBI ground out to the short stop in the bottom of the first inning. SJFU scored on a sacrificed fly in the top of the second inning.

Remm had a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning that sailed over the right field wall to go back up with a 2-1 lead. Fisher tied and took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run. The lead didn't last long as the Saxons retook the lead, 4-3 when Remm had a two-RBI single to left field in the bottom of the same inning, driving home Whitmyer and Prather. Fisher's final run was scored on a solo home run in the top of the fifth, tying the game, 4-4.

Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) reached first on a throwing error by the relief pitcher for the Cardinals while attempting to put down a sacrificed bunt. The throwing error was bad enough to allow pinch-runner Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) to not only get to second on the bunt from Martinez, but to advance to third, round and get home for the 5-4 run, essentially, the game-winning run. Martinez was able to scurry all the way to third on the mistake. Martinez scored the final run of the day when Vidal grounded out to third base.

Steward had three strikeouts in the circle, including the game-ending swinging strikeout as the Fisher batter went too hard on a checked swing.

Utica and Fisher face each other in the morning game on Saturday. The winner will face the Saxons in the Championship game at 1:30pm.