Ithaca Rallies Past Alfred in Winner's Bracket
Monica Capolongo was 2-for-2 including a triple.

Ithaca Rallies Past Alfred in Winner's Bracket

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Box Score 

A homerun and a triple were hit in the fourth inning of the final game of day one of the Empire 8 Softball Tournament as top-seeded Ithaca College rallied to defeat third-seeded Alfred University, 4-2 Friday night.

Alfred will now take on Utica College at 11 am Saturday in an elminiation game with the winner advancing to face Ithaca at 1pm in the championship game. Should Fisher lose on Saturday, the winner takes all championship game will be played on Sunday.  Please continue to check empire8.com for schedule updates should weather impact the playing field.

Ithaca senior Sam Bender struck out two and allowed just two earned runs against Alfred to record her second complete-game victory of the day. Monica Capolongo recorded a triple and picked up a RBI in a 2-for-3 performance. Sophomore Casey Gavin went 1-for-3, including a home run.

Alfred scored the first run of the game in the opening frame, giving the Saxons a 1-0 lead on two hits. Sophomore outfielder Samantha Jauregui led off with a single and moved to second on a groundout before scoring on a double by sophomore second baseman Dana Torchia.

The Bombers responded with a three-run effort in the fourth. Gavin started the rally with a solo home run to left field, the first of her collegiate career. With a runner at first later in the inning, Capolongo hit a triple down the right field line to put the Bombers ahead, 2-1. An Alfred infield error resulted in the final run of the inning, putting Ithaca up by a score of 3-1.

With a runner at third and one out in the sixth, junior Nina Lindberg placed a perfect bunt in the middle infield to reach base and score the fourth Bomber run of the game.

Alfred cut into the lead with a run in the seventh. Jauregui singled to lead off the inning and scored when freshman third baseman Liz Thompson followed with a double. Alfred's rally ended there, however, as Ithaca retired the next three Saxon batters.
 
Jauregui finished 3-for-4 with two runs to lead the Saxons. Torchia, Wickwire and senior outfielder Stephanie Arguello each had two hits. AU had 11 hits in all, but stranded eight runners.
 
Wickwire went the distance for Alfred, allowing four runs (three earned), on eight hits while striking out five.