TIFFIN, OH – Super Regional Champions! That's what the Alfred University softball team became on Saturday when they defeated Heidelberg University twice during the three-game series, 3-2 and 8-6, respectively.
Both games came down to the final three outs in the bottom of the seventh innings with the Saxons (40-5) being designated the visitors for both contests. The two AU pitchers who picked up the wins on Saturday were senior
Alison Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) and freshman
Kerri Keeler (Jamesville, NY/Jamesville-Dewitt). Keeler also earned the tournament's title of Most Outstanding Pitcher.
Sophomore third base
Liz Thompson (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) earned the Most Outstanding Player award.
Alfred won the opener on Saturday, 3-2 and gave the Student Princes their first loss on their home diamond. Junior
Dana Torchia (Pompton Plains, NJ/Pequannock Township) drove in the game's first and second runs when she hit a double, bringing in Thompson and senior
Alyson Hampton (Oxnard, CA/Oxnard) for a Saxon 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
After Heidelberg tied the game up 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer, junior
Nicole Maher (Newark, DE/Caravel Academy) hit a single past the third baseman in the top of the seventh to bring home Thompson for the 3-2 finale with bases loaded.
Wickwire improved her pitching record to 13-3 after she game up two earned runs and six hits but struck out five batters.
After evening the series at 1-1, the Saxons got things started in the nightcap by lighting up the scoreboard in the first three innings.
Maher earned the first RBI with a single up the middle, scoring Thompson and advancing Wickwire to second where she would be replaced by junior pinch runner,
Mackenzie Miller (Newport, OR/Newport). Junior designated player
Jasmine Picini (Alexandria, VA/West Potomac) ripped a double to left center that advanced Miller and Maher across home plate for a 3-0 lead after one.
In the next inning, freshman left fielder
Shannon Schaefer (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) ran home on a wild pitch before Torchia flew out to centerfield for the sacrificed play, driving in Hampton for a Saxon 5-0 lead.
Maher scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third to bring the Saxons' tally up to six with the shutout before the Princes rallied to bring it within one run 5-6 in the bottom of the fourth.
Alfred held the hosts at bay with a Thompson double to right field that scored both Schaefer and Hampton, extending the Alfred lead to 8-5 with the entire seventh inning to play.
Heidelberg managed to get a runner home in the bottom of the seventh but Keeler and her defense held strong on the scoring play when junior right fielder
Samantha Jauregui (Lindsay, CA/Lindsay) threw the scoring single to Torchia at second who relayed it to Maher for the third and final out and the Super Regional Championship win.
The Saxons advance to Salem, VA for the double-elimination College World Series tournament and will face off with Linfield College in the opening round at 1:30 p.m. Thursday..
College World Series Bracket