PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The Golden Flyers' season came to an end on Thursday evening following two losses in the double-elimination Empire 8 tournament, the first loss being to Alfred in six innings at a score of 11-3, and the second loss to SUNY Poly at a score of 10-2 in five innings.
Nazareth ends its season with an overall record of 21-15 and a conference record of 14-8. Alfred University and SUNY Poly will remain in the Empire 8 tournament, Alfred with no losses tallied yet and Poly with one.
Nazareth Defeated by Alfred 11-3
The Golden Flyers started the day hot with two runs in the first inning of play. After
Morgan Russo and
Kaijah Alexander walked,
Sarah Ferruzza was hit by a pitch to make the bases loaded with one out.
Madison Hicks then brought the two runs of the inning in on a single to left field, scoring Russo and Alexander.
Still up 2-0 heading into the bottom of the second, Nazareth allowed Alfred to put up eight runs to take the six-run lead.
Neither team was able to get back on the board until the Saxons scored on a walk and a single in the bottom of the fourth to go up 9-2.
Nazareth earned that run back in the top of the fifth,
Haleigh Suitor taking a walk, and then scoring after being advanced on singles by Hicks and
Caitlyn Knapp.
The Golden Flyers' run was quickly negated in the bottom of the fifth when Alfred put up another run to bring back the seven-run lead.
After a scoreless top of the sixth, Alfred scored again in the bottom of the inning to force the eight-run-rule which concluded the game at a final score of 11-3.
Avery Zembek started in the circle for the Golden Flyers and was ultimately charged with the loss, allowing two earned runs and tallying four strikeouts on 12 batters faced. Hicks closed for Nazareth, throwing 3.2 innings and tallying two strikeouts on 20 batters faced and was charged with four earned runs.
The Empire 8 softball tournament is double elimination, so the loss forced Nazareth to play in an elimination round later in the day.
Nazareth Falls in Five to SUNY Poly
In the second game of the day for the Golden Flyers, it was SUNY Poly who threw the first punch, scoring six runs in the top of the second after a scoreless first inning.
In the bottom of the inning, the Golden Flyers fought back with two runs on a two-run homer by Knapp after Zembek walked.
Despite getting a few runners on base, Nazareth was not able to close the deficit and after four runs for SUNY Poly in the top of the fifth, the run-rule was in place and Nazareth fell in the fifth inning at a score of 10-2.
Zembek threw the majority of the game, earning three strikeouts against 24 batters faced. Hicks closed for the Golden Flyers, facing four batters.
