CLERMONT, FL – The Alfred University softball team dropped its third game of the season to #11 nationally-ranked Moravian University and then defeated Otterbein University in Monday's second game during its Florida trip.

The Saxons (2-2, 0-0 Empire 8) first dropped a six-inning, 18-2 loss to the Greyhounds (3-1, 0-0 Landmark) but then ended the day with a 7-6 win over the Cardinals (2-2, 0-0 OAC).


Game One – 6 Innings
Alfred University – 2 | Moravian University – 18

The Greyhounds posted four runs in the top of the first inning to take an early lead, proving too far out of reach for the Saxons despite the AU defense holding them to only four additional runs until the top of the sixth inning.

Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) was the first score of the day when she hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the second. Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) was the last Saxon scorer in Monday's opener with a solo shot of her own, clearing the center field fence in the bottom of the fifth.


Game Two
Otterbein University – 6 | Alfred University – 7

The Cardinals were the first team on the board, hitting an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning.

Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) homered to center field in the top of the third inning to tie and take the lead by driving home Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill). Boulger then pushed the lead to 3-1 with an RBI double to left center to drive home Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) in the same inning. Otterbein responded with a tying two runs in the bottom of the inning on two separate plays.

The Saxons separated the lead again immediately after when Wark crossed home plate on a Vidal RBI single up the middle in the top of the fourth. Mistretta grounded out to the Cardinal pitcher, but was credited with the RBI as Jovie Riley (Bakersfield, CA/Stockdale) crossed home plate on the throw for the 5-3 lead.

The Cardinals took their first and would-be last lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with two plays for the 6-5 lead. Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) drove in the game-tying run and game-winning run with a home run to center field as Vidal crossed home on the plate in the top of the seventh inning. The Saxon defense closed it out with the third and final out being from a remarkable foul-territory diving catch from right fielder, Vidal.

Ava Galvan (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) picked up her second collegiate pitching win with five strikeouts.

The Saxons will next take on North Park University on Tuesday, March 10 at 9:00am, followed by Juniata College at 11:30am.