ROCHESTER, NY – Freshmen Ashley Bell and Maddy Spakoski each homered in the first game of an Empire doubleheader against Alfred University Friday as the Nazareth Softball team split the home opener series with the Saxons.

Nazareth (6-6 overall, 1-1 Empire 8) won the opener 7-4 and Alfred (4-8-1, 1-1 Empire 8) rebounded for a 14-3 win in the nightcap to salvage the split.

The Golden Flyers had dropped nine straight games in the series with Alfred before the hot freshmen bats led Nazareth to the win in the opener. Bell homered in the third with a solo shot over the right field fence to tie the game at 1-1.

Later in the third, sophomore Maggie Burdick connected on a two-run single to give Nazareth a 3-1 lead.

In the fifth, Spakoski hit a three-run homer to extend the lead to 6-1.

The teams exchanged runs in the sixth and Alfred closed the game with a pair of runs in the seventh before senior pitcher Emily Daciw closed out the game for her fifth win of the season.

In game two, graduate student Justine Brooks had a pair of hits as the Saxons rallied for 11 runs in the final two innings for the win.

On the day, Burdick, Brooks and junior Marissa Berghorn all finished with three hits each and Burdick led the team with four runs batted in. Spakoski and Bell were each 2-for-5 with a run scored as Spakoski knocked in three runs and Bell had a pair of RBI.

Senior Sarah Simmons and junior Cassidy Hoffmier were each 2-for-6 on the day with hits in each game.

Nazareth returns to action Saturday at Houghton for another Empire 8 doubleheader and will play at home Wednesday with two non-conference games against Buffalo State.