ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team split with Nazareth University during its home-opening, Empire 8-opening games on Sunday from Harrington Field as both games were the first games in the northern United States for AU.
 
The Saxons (5-7, 1-1 Empire 8) dropped the first game to the Golden Flyers (6-6, 1-1 Empire 8) 13-5 and then won the nightcap, 9-6.
 
"Hats off to Naz. That team can flat out hit," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "They are aggressive and exposed us a little today but it's important to be put in those situations so we can keep getting better every day. I was proud of how the team responded in game two. They could have rolled over and they didn't. Our hitting is really close, as we are just missing a few good pitches but we will get that figured out. Proud of the girls for getting a split against a really good conference team."
 
Game One
Alfred University – 5 | Nazareth University – 13
 
The Saxons were the first on the scoreboard when Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) sacrificed a flyout to centerfield, giving Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) a chance to tag up and score for the early, 1-0 lead after the first inning.
 
Nazareth responded with five runs scoring in the top of the third inning.
 
Vidal scored another run when she scored on a groundout from Mistretta in the bottom of the third inning, making it a three-run lead for the Golden Flyers, 5-2.
 
The Saxons tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, starting with Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) doubling down the right field line to bring home Taylor Carlson (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach). Vidal singled up the middle to score Paris Guzman (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe). The next at-bat, Vidal showed an attempt to steal second in hopes to draw the throwdown from the Naz catcher with Wark at third base. But a bad throw from the catcher sent Wark back down the third base line to tie up the game at 5-5.
 
Naz piled on seven runs in the top of the fifth and another in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach for the Saxons.
 
Vidal was a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and one RBI while being walked twice. She also totaled four stolen bases in the contest.
 
Naz totaled 17 hits compared to Alfred's nine.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 9 | Nazareth University – 6
 
After a scoreless first inning, the Golden Flyers were the first on the board with two runs in the top of the second inning. Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) was the first Saxon to put a run up, scoring on a dropped fly ball, hit by Guzman to shallow right center field. Destiny Avila (Long Beach, CA/St. Anthony) smashed her first career home run as a Saxon, driving one out to the batting cage at Harrington Field outside of the left field fence as she brought home both Wark on second base and Guzman. Mistretta doubled to center field to bring home Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) to make it a 5-3 Saxon advantage.
 
Naz tied the game with two runs in the top of the third.
 
Mistretta walked with bases loaded to break the even game in the bottom of the fourth. The inning ended with a double play from the Nazareth defense but not before Vidal was able to scurry home to make it a 7-5 lead.
 
Avila scored her second run of the game when Mistretta sacrificed flied out to right center field in the bottom of the sixth. Vidal then scored the team's ninth run when Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) singled up the middle.
 
Naz tried making a comeback but it only resulted in one run in the top of the seventh.
 
Ava Galvan (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) picked up her third win of the season as well as her first conference win. She pitched all seven innings with one strikeout and didn't walk a single batter.
 
Martinez was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate as both her and Vidal each stole a base. Mistretta and Avila ended the game with three RBI each while Avila and Vidal each had two runs.
 
The Saxons do not get much a break as they will next host Rochester Institute of Technology on Monday, March 30 in a non-conference doubleheader from Harrington Field.