ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team swept Rochester Institute of Technology on Monday evening from Harrington Field in non-conference play.
 
The Saxons (7-7, 1-1 Empire 8) mercy-ruled the Tigers (8-6, 0-0 Liberty League) in five innings for game one, taking the 9-1 victory. They closed out the sweep with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap.
 
Game One – Five Innings
Alfred University – 9 | RIT – 1
 
The Saxons were the first on the scoreboard when Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) walked and rounded first to steal second, leaving an opening for Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) to steal home in the bottom of the first. Mistretta scored shortly after on a bad throw from the first base player.
 
RIT scored one unearned run in the top of the second and would ultimately be their only run of the game.
 
Mistretta doubled down the right field line in the bottom of the second to bring home Paris Guzman (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) to make it a 3-1 Saxon lead. After a scoreless third inning, the Saxon bats opened up the flood gates and poured on six runs to put themselves up by eight.
 
Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) scored when Guzman singled down the left field line with a surprise bunt that caught the Tiger defense off guard. All five remaining runs that were scored were unearned after RIT errors.
 
Vidal and Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) led the offense with two hits each, both of them going 3-for-2. Whitmyer had one RBI and one run while Vidal scored twice. Mistretta and Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) each had two RBI while Mistretta scored two runs and Boulger had one.
 
Vidal had two stolen bases while Mistretta and Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) each had one.
 
Ava Galvan (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) picked up her fourth win of the season as she retired batters five times and gave up only four hits and two walks.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 8 | RIT – 3
 
Like the first game, the Saxons took an early lead as Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) scored on a Steward single down the right field line in the bottom of the second. Mistretta scored right after on a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 Saxon lead. RIT tied the game during the top of the second.
 
Steward doubled to left center field to bring home both Martinez and Mistretta during the bottom of the third inning to put the Saxons back up, 4-2. Boulger homered to left field to clear the bases of Steward and give AU the 6-2 lead.
 
Taylor Carlson (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach) singled up the middle to bring home Boulger in the bottom of the fifth and Mistretta doubled to left center in the bottom of the sixth to end the Saxon scoring, bringing home Martinez.
 
RIT put one more run on the board before a Steward-led defense closed out the game.
 
Mistretta, Steward and Boulger each had two hits while Steward had three RBI and Boulger had one. Mistretta and Boulger each had two runs while Martinez crossed home three times. Martinez had three stolen bases while Mistretta and Steward each had one.
 
Carlson picked up her first win with two strikeouts. Steward had three strikeouts.
 
The Saxons will next travel to SUNY Brockport on Friday, April 3 for an Empire 8 doubleheader with the first game slated for 3:00pm.