CLERMONT, FL – The Alfred University softball team began its 2026 campaign with a 5-2 victory over defending President's Athletic Conference champions, Westminster University (PA) and a 9-4 loss to defending University Athletic Association and #20 nationally-ranked Case Western Reserve University on Sunday during their annual Spring Break Training Trip.

The Saxons (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) faced a 2-0 deficit to the Titans (1-1, 0-0 PAC) after three and a half innings before mounting a 5-0 comeback scoring spree to pick up the season-opening win with four runs scoring in the bottom of the sixth. Then, to close out the weekend, AU struck first for a 1-0 lead over the Spartans (6-0, 0-0 UAA) before a two-run bottom gave the nationally-ranked opponents the lead. AU tied it in the top of the second inning before back-to-back two-run bottom innings put the Spartans' advantage out of reach.

"It was great to be back on the dirt for the first time since the fall," Head Coach Luke Wesneski said. "I was proud of how the girls battled today and came back from a two-run deficit in game one to gut out a win over a conference champion from last year. Game two was a great test against a top 25 team and I thought we played great defense and had timely hitting. We just needed a few more breaks to go our way, but there was no quit and I like that attitude heading into tomorrow against another top 25. Looking forward to getting better each day!"


Game One
Alfred University – 5 | Westminster University (PA) – 2

Ava Galvan (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) picked up her first win of her collegiate career, giving up only one earned run while striking out four batters and walking one during her 103 pitches.

Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) and Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) each went 2-for-3 from the plate with Mistretta driving in one run and crossing home plate twice herself. Steward had one RBI. Mistretta and Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) each had a double for the game while Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) had the only home run in the game as it was the season's first for the Saxons and her first collegiate homer. Mistretta also had a stolen base in the game.

Steward drove in the Saxons first run of the game when she singled to right center, bringing home Mistretta in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the Titan lead in half. Mistretta then tied the game in the bottom of the sixth with a double to left center to score Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill). Mistretta crossed home plate for what would be the game-winning score on a passed ball by the Westminster catcher. Boulger put the icing on the cake when she homered to left field to bring home Jovie Riley (Bakersfield, CA/Stockdale).

Galvan ended the game for the win when she four-pitch swinging strikeout in the top of the seventh.


Game Two
Case Western Reserve University – 9 | Alfred University – 4

Steward drove in the first run again, this time with a single to center field to bring home Vidal in the top of the first. CWRU scored two in the bottom of the inning on a double to right center before Mistretta was walked in the top of the second with bases loaded to push home Taylor Carlson (Huntington Beach,CA/Huntington Beach). Case Western responded with two runs in the bottom of the third and another two in the fourth for a 6-2 lead.

The Saxons' final scores of the day came during the top of the fifth inning when Whitmyer had a solo, one-pitch home run to center field, followed immediately by Steward who put a shot in nearly the same location on a two-pitch at-bat.

Steward and Whitmyer both had 2-for-4 performances from the plate with a run each while Steward totaled two RBI.

The Saxons will next face another nationally-ranked opponent to open their Monday play in Florida, facing #11 Moravian University at 9:00am and then taking on Otterbein University at 11:15am.