Softball | 5/10/2025 4:52:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – The No. 2 Alfred University softball team completed its undefeated spree in the Empire 8 Championships, defeating No. 1 St. John Fisher University for the second game in a row, earning the title of 2025 E8 Softball Champions on Saturday.
The Saxons (32-9, 18-4 Empire 8) started the weekend with a win over No. 5 Nazareth University, then defeated No. 4 Utica University and ended it with back-to-back wins over the No. 1 Cardinals (29-15, 18-4 Empire 8). The clinched the title with a final score of 5-2.
"All I can say is it's a great day to be a Saxon! So incredibly proud of this group of resilient women," Head Coach
Luke Wesneski said. "They play hard and work hard for each other every day and they were rewarded for it. This tournament was tough and to go 4-0 and win it all is just a testament to our culture and believing in one another. There were so many key moments to winning this, that it is hard to give a shout out to any one person. But I will give a special shout out to Kendall for throwing every pitch of the tourney and being named MVP and just being a bulldog. Jess Remm had some clutch hits and our two seniors played outstanding. Just an all around amazing effort by the Saxons today. Looking forward to the selection show Monday and getting back together with the girls! Go Saxons!"
Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player as she pitched every inning to complete her undefeated streak against Empire 8 opponents. She didn't drop a single game in the regular season or E8 Tournament.
Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) was named an Empire 8 Torchbearer for having the highest GPA out of the two teams competing for the championship.
The Cardinals' lone two runs came in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, a run was walked in before a sacrificed fly in the bottom of the fifth, giving them the 2-0 lead.
The Saxon defense would not give up another run to SJFU for the remainder of the day.
Meghan Neto (Miami, FL/Doral Academy Charter) drove in the first Saxon runs with a double to right center field that sent
Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) and Steward home, tying the game, 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning.
Remm drove in the game-winning and championship-clinching run when she had the game's only home run, sending a shot over the center field fence, driving home
Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) and
Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill), making it 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning.
As the designated visitors, the Saxons took the field in the bottom of the inning with the lead. Fisher's Maddie Donlin flied out to Vidal in right center field.
Taylor Shackleton singled up the middle but was out during the next at-bat as Neto fielded a ground ball from
Emily McManus and tossed it to
Delaney Prather (North East, PA/North East) for the forced out at second base.
Mari Spitz may have reached on a fielder's choice as well, but her grounder went to Neto who stepped on second for the forced out of Shackleton, ending the hopes of the Cardinals and sending the Saxons to the title!
The Saxons out-hit the Cardinals, 10-7. Steward struck out batters twice. AU only struck out once.
Remm tied and broke the Alfred University school record for most runs in a single season, surpassing All-American Liz Thompson '17 and her mark of 56. Remm tied it on Neto's double and broke it with her home run.
The Saxons will next turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament as the Empire 8 Automatic-Qualifier. Details will be released on Monday, May 12.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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