ROCHESTER, N.Y. - On Friday afternoon and evening, the Golden Flyers split a doubleheader against Alfred University, dropping the first game 8-2, and winning the second game 5-3.

Nazareth's record now sits at 5-6 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while Alfred's record is now 10-4 overall and 1-1 in Empire 8 play.

Nazareth Falls 8-2
The first game of the day started off slow from a scoring standpoint, both teams going three-up-three-down in the first two innings.

In the top of the third, the Saxons finally broke it open with two runs. After another scoreless inning in the fourth, Alfred put up another three runs in the top of the fifth to go up 5-0.

The Golden Flyers finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Haleigh Suitor started the bottom of the inning off with a single up the middle, followed by Sarah Ferruzza who walked. Madison Chodkowski then moved the runners with a sac bunt and Ashley Bell scored Suitor on a sac fly to right field to make the score 5-1.

Heading into the seventh inning, the score was still at 5-1. In the top of the seventh, Alfred was able to bring three more runners home to put even more pressure on the Golden Flyers as Nazareth stepped up for its last-ups.

Madison Hicks led off for the Golden Flyers with a single in the bottom of the seventh. Suitor then reached first on a fielder's choice, while Maddie Klein, pinch running for Hicks, got thrown out at second. After being advanced by Ferruzza, Suitor scored on a Chodkowski single to cut the score to 8-2. Unfortunately for the Golden Flyers, the two-out-rally ended short and Alfred took the win in the first game 8-2.

Hicks was in the circle for the Golden Flyers in game one, earning four strikeouts on 33 batters faced and allowing only two earned runs.

Nazareth Downs Saxons 5-3
The second game started out much quicker, each team putting up a run in the first inning. After allowing the Saxons to score, Julia Maciag scored a run for the Golden Flyers after reaching on an error, being advanced by Bell with a sac bunt, and was knocked in by a single from Kaijah Alexander.

The score was still 1-1 heading into the bottom of the third. After holding the Saxons scoreless for two innings, the Golden Flyers brought around two more runs on a single from Bell and a home run from Alexander to make the score 3-1 heading into the fourth. 

After holding the Saxons to three batters in the top of the fourth, the Golden Flyers added another run in a two-hit inning. Ferruzza scored Nazareth's run after getting on with a single and being knocked around by Klein and Maciag.

After another inning where both teams went three-up-three-down, the score was still 4-1 heading into the sixth. The Golden Flyers held the Saxons in the top of the sixth to zeros across the board, while putting up one more run in the bottom. Ferruzza started the hitting with a double for Nazareth with one out. Hailey Trank then singled up the middle to knock Russo in, who was pinch running for Ferruzza, to score Nazareth's fifth and final run of the game.

Despite the Saxons scoring two runs in the top of the seventh, the Golden Flyers were able to hold on to the lead to take home the 5-3 conference w.

Avery Zembeck threw for the Golden Flyers in the win, tallying five strikeouts on 27 batters faced, and only allowing two earned runs.

The Golden Flyers will be back in action on April 5 at Hartwick College at 1 and 3 p.m. for another conference double header.