Box ScoreROCHESTER, NY- Alison Wickwire scattered four hits and struck out four to earn her 14
th win of the season as Alfred University defeated Messiah College, 4-1, in the first round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships at the University of Rochester.
Wickwire allowed a total of seven baserunners, just three in scoring position, as the Saxons (28-10) moved into the winner's bracket on Saturday. Alfred will play the University of Rochester at 11 a.m. Saturday. Rochester defeated Marywood University, 6-0. The winner of the Rochester-Alfred game moves into Sunday's championship round at 12 p.m.
Messiah (28-10) will play Marywood (24-12) in a 1:30 p.m. elimination game Saturday. The loser of the Alfred-Rochester game will play the winner of the Messiah-Marywood game at 4 p.m. to determine the second team for Sunday's finals.
Alfred compiled six hits off two pitchers and saw four different players drive in runs. The Saxons jumped ahead with three runs in the bottom of the second on three hits off Mallory Rutledge (14-7). She left in the bottom of the third after allowing a leadoff double to Dana Torchia. Claressa Mees pitched the final four innings for the Falcons. She allowed two hits and struck out one. Rutledge did not issue a walk or record a strikeout. She hit two batters.
"They (Alfred) were getting to (Rutledge)," said Messiah coach Amy Weaver. "Claressa was more effective. We knew they (Alfred) were good players and we did not shut them down."
"To get an early lead was huge for us," said Alfred coach Gino Olivieri. "I felt good about the way we practiced (leading up to the game). We couldn't wait to play."
Wickwire appreciated the early lead. "It makes me more confident," she said. "There was more confidence in the whole team."
In the bottom of the second, Wickwire was hit by a pitch. Danielle Mastropierro ran for her and was bunted to second. Jasmine Picini's double to deep center moved her to third. She scored when Nora Passuite grounded to second and Mastropierro slid under the tag. Rachel Guszick singled in Picini two batters later, and Samantha Jauregui's squeeze bunt brought home Passuite.
Messiah put runners in scoring position in the third (Katie Tankred walked and was bunted to second) and the fourth (Courtney Allen singled and advanced on a wild pitch), but Wickwire worked out of each jam.
Alfred added a fourth run in the fifth. Liz Thompson doubled down the left field line. She advanced on Torchia's groundout and scored on Wickwire's groundout.
The Falcons finally broke through in the seventh. Krista Ammon singled up the middle. Nicole Blatnz lined a single off Wickwire's shin and Ammon moved to third. After Tankred popped out, Emily Quatrale forced Blatnz at second with Ammon scoring.
"They made contact when the ball was pitched," Weaver said, "and we didn't."
