Alfred University Softball Team Ranked 27th

4/8/2015 2:36:00 PM

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team is ranked 27^th in Division III, according to the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll. The Saxons lead the nation in fielding percentage and are among the nation's leaders in several other statistical categories.

AU (14-2) received four votes in the NFCA Division III poll released today, placing the Saxons 27^th, up one spot from last week's poll.

The Saxons are listed in the top-10 among all Division III teams in four statistical categories. The team's .984 fielding percentage (seven errors in 445 chances through 16 games) is tied with Luther College for the top spot in the nation.

Alfred also ranks fifth in the country in batting average (.416); ninth in slugging (.577); and 10^th in win-loss percentage (.875).

Three AU players – sophomore third baseman Liz Thompson (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads), senior pitcher-first baseman Alison Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) and freshman pitcher Shannon Schaefer (Neptune, NJ/Westfield) – are ranked among the top 25 in several categories.

Thompson, coming off a week in which she went 12-for-14 with nine runs scored and earned top weekly honors from the Empire 8 and ECAC, ranks fifth in the country in batting, with a .614 average. She is also 15^th in on-base percentage (.630), 16^th in runs per game (1.46); and 24^th in triples per game (0.23).

Wickwire is 10^th in homeruns per game (0.33) and 22^nd in RBIs per game (1.47), while Schaefer is 11^th in saves (two).

Alfred is action next on Thursday, April 9, with a 3 p.m. non-league doubleheader against visiting Pitt-Bradford. The Saxons open Empire 8 Conference play Saturday, April 11^th, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against visiting Utica, then host E8 rival Ithaca for two games on Sunday, April 12, beginning at 1 p.m.