ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team took two wins away from Utica University on Friday evening from Harrington Field in Empire 8 action.
 
The Saxons (14-12, 8-4 Empire 8) won the opening game, 10-6 and then run-ruled the Pioneers (11-14, 6-5 Empire 8) in five innings, 10-1.
 
Game One
Alfred University – 10 | Utica University – 6
 
The Saxons scored first in the bottom of the opening frame when Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA/Hayfield Secondary) lined out a sacrificed flyball to center field that sent Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) home for the 1-0 lead. Utica tied the game in the top of the third inning.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) drove in two runs with a double to right field, scoring Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY/Williamsville East) and Mistretta to make it a 3-1. Right after, Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) homered to left field to clear the bases and make it a 5-1 Saxon lead. The Pioneers took the lead with five runs scored in the top of the sixth inning, but AU responded with five of their own in the bottom of the frame before closing out the win.
 
Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) drove home a run in the bottom of the sixth with bases loaded when she grounded out to the first base player, sending Paris Guzman (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) home to tie the game at 6-6. Vidal singled to the shortstop, beating out the throw to first and giving Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) the opportunity to reach home plate, taking the 7-6 lead. Mistretta homered down the right field line to make it a 10-6 lead, clearing the bases of Samantha Wendig (Exton, PA/Downingtown East) and Vidal.
 
Steward picked up the win with five strikeouts.
 
Mistretta led the bats with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, driving in four runs and scoring two herself. Both Steward and Whitmyer recorded doubles and each had two RBI apiece.
 
Game Two (Five Innings)
Alfred University – 10 | Utica University – 1
 
The Saxons didn't give up a single run until the top of the fifth inning. In the bottom of the first, Whitmyer homered to center field to bring home Vidal and Mistretta for the early, 3-0 lead and ultimately, the game-winning hit. Boulger singled to left field to send Steward home in the same inning for the 4-0 advantage.
 
Mistretta drove in the lone run of the second inning when she singled through the right side to send Destiny Avila (Long Beach, CA/St. Anthony) home to make it 5-0.
 
Avila scored in the bottom of the fourth on a passed ball. Mistretta singled up the middle to send Wark home to make it a 7-0 Saxon lead. Mistretta and Whitmyer stole bases with Mistretta taking third, but a bad throw by the Utica catcher gave her the opening to get up and reach home. Steward homered to center field to bring home Whitmyer, making it a 10-0 lead.
 
Utica looked to get more runs on the board after scoring one in the top of the fifth with runners on first and third. A hard-hit, low shot looked to find the green of the grass at Harrington Field, guaranteeing at least one more run scoring, but a diving, miraculous catch from Vidal in center field ended the Pioneers' hopes and ended the day for the sweep.
 
Ava Galvan (Santa Fe Springs, CA/Santa Fe) picked up the pitching win, giving up only three hits and striking batters out four times. The Saxons totaled 10 stolen bases for the second most in a single game in school history. Mistretta had three stolen bases and Whitmyer had two. Mistretta was also a perfect, 3-for-3 at the plate.
 
The Saxons will next host SUNY Poly on Saturday, April 18 in an Empire 8 doubleheader, starting at noon. The Saxons will celebrate the careers of Wark, Avila and Caroline Courson (Erie, CO/Erie) in pregame ceremonies for Senior Day.