ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team split an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at St. John Fisher University on Wednesday evening.
 
The Saxons (9-9, 3-3 Empire 8) took the loss in game one to the Cardinals (16-8, 7-1 Empire 8) 11-5 and fought back to win game two 8-5
 
Game One
Alfred University – 5 | St. John Fisher – 11
 
The Saxons scored first in the top of the first inning after Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL / Forest Hill) singled, stole second, advanced to third on an Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA  / Woodbridge) bunt, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Bella Mistretta (Alexandria, VA / Hayfield Secondary).
 
The Cardinals took a 5-1 lead after a big first and second inning. Down four runs, Alfred University fought back in the sixth inning, tying the game at five. After reaching first on an error, Vidal came around to score on a double down the line by Mistretta. Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA Trinity) bashed a single into center, putting Mistretta across home plate, and later scored after Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY Randolph) launched the ball over the right field fence to tie the game going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Saxons' efforts weren't enough as they would go on to fall to St. John Fisher after a six-run sixth inning.
 
Game Two
Alfred University – 8 | St. John Fisher –5
 
After falling 2-0 in the first inning, the Saxons answered back with two runs of their own in the second. Following a walk and two errors to load the bases, Whitmyer crossed home plate on a fielder's choice, and [Kendall] Steward stole home to tie the game at two. 

The Cardinals tacked on three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead early in the game. Alfred University brought the score back within one run after scoring a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, [Kendall] Steward led off the inning with a triple and came across to score on a single by Ally Boulger (Mukilteo, WA / Kamiak). In the fifth, Martinez singled into center, stole second, and scored on a single off the bat of Whitmyer.

The Saxons took the lead in the sixth inning after Martinez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and sent a clutch two-out single into right field.

Alfred University continued their clutch hitting in the seventh inning, scoring a run off a single by Paris Guzman (Santa Fe Springs, CA / Santa Fe), and their final run off a single by Brielle Wark (East Amherst, NY / Williamsville East). The Saxons held on to the three-run lead to take game two against the Cardinals.
 
[Kendall] Steward had a day inside the pitcher's circle, picking up the win after pitching all 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts. Martinez and Wark led the offense, picking up two hits and two runs apiece at the plate. 
 
The Saxons will next travel to Hartwick College on Friday, April 10th, for an Empire 8 doubleheader at 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.