Pioneers Advance to Quarterfinals with Sweep of Hilbert

The Alfred State softball team advanced to the AMCC Quarterfinals with a sweep of a best of three series vs. Hilbert on Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers used timely hitting to earn 4-2 and 9-3 victories over the Hawks.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the opener after the first two batters of the game. Sarah Boyce (Cortland) singled and came around to score on a RBI double to center by Audrey Farrell (York/Notre Dame). The game remained 1-0 until the 3rd, when Mattison Arnett connected on a two-run double to left center to give the Hawks their first lead of the day.

In the 4th, Kailey Wonica (Staten Island/Moore Catholic) delivered a two out, 2-RBI single up the middle to give the Pioneers back the lead for good. One batter later, Krista Lovell (Addison) made it 4-2 with a RBI single to right to score Farrell.

Brittany Fisher (Indianapolis, IN) who danced out of trouble during the first four innings retired the final 12 batters of the game to seal the victory. She went all seven allowing two runs on eight hits. She walked a pair and struck out five.

Farrell and Lovell each finished 2 for 4 with a RBI on the day while Jade Parsons (Ovid/South Seneca) was 2 for 3.

Hilbert got on the board first in the nightcap in the 3rd when Victoria Grayson hit a RBI groundout. The Pioneers answered right back in the bottom of the inning with five straight two-out hits to grab the lead for good. Wonica hit a RBI single to left to tie it, Fisher followed two batters later with a two-RBI single, and Brianna Dittman (Brooklyn/James Madison) followed with another two-RBI single. 

In the 4th, Angela Martone (Candor) scored on a throwing error, Farrell knocked in Boyce with a RBI groundout, and Lovell connected on a RBI double to center to make it 8-1.

Hilbert cut the lead to 8-3 with a pair of runs in the 5th but wouldn't get any closer. Boyce added an insurance run in the 6th with a RBI groundout to make it 9-3.

Wonica was 3 for 4 with a RBI to pace the Pioneers 12-hit attack. Farrell and Lovell were each 2 for 4 with a RBI in game two as well. Farrell earned the win on the mound with four solid innings. She allowed one run on five hits while walking one and striking out one. Fisher earned the save with three innings of work. She allowed three hits and two runs while walking one.

The #8 seeded Pioneers will travel to Erie, PA on Sunday for a best of the three series with Penn State Behrend. Behrend, the #1 seed, swept Alfred State earlier in the season. First pitch of game one is slated for Noon.