Liz Thompson was 3-for-4 with the winning run scored.
Box Score
The Alfred University softball team scored once in the first inning and it was the only run needed to defeat Ithaca, 1-0, Saturday afternoon and avoid elimination at the Empire 8 Conference championship tournament. The win over Ithaca was the 250
th in head
Gino Olivieri's career at AU.
Alfred will face fourth seeded St. John Fisher College this afternoon. If the Saxons defeat the Cardinals today, the two teams will meet again Sunday afternoon in a winner-take-all game for the conference crown and a berth in the NCAA Division III championship tournament.
With one out, Liz Thompson doubled to get the Saxons into scoring position early. Thompson was brought home, when Alison Wickwire hit an RBI single with two outs.
Stellar pitching and defense from both sides carried the 1-0 game into the bottom of the seventh. Although both sides pressured throughout, neither team was able to change the 1-0 score.
Ithaca, serving as the home team, was able to get a runner on in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a single from Kelly Robichaud. However, the Bombers were unable to generate any more offense in the frame, giving Alfred the 1-0 win.
Thompson finished 3-for-4 to lead Alfred, as Alfred also received hits from Smantha Jauregui, Sophia Chiavatti and Nora Passuite.
Ithaca totaled three hits on the day with one each from Robichaud, Monica Capologno and Nicole Ciricillo.
Kerri Keeler threw a complete game and earned her 14th win in the circle as the Saxon defense held strong. Keller allowed two walks and three hits, while striking out two batters.
Laura Quicker took the loss as she struck out a season-best seven batters.