ALFRED, N.Y. – The Hilbert College softball team faced a red-hot pitcher to open the afternoon then struggled to connect the bat with the balls in the night cap.  The Hawks dropped both games (8-0 and 10-1) in 5 innings of non-conference action against a tough Alfred University team who improved to 20-2.

The pace of the first game was incredibly quick; three up, three down until the bottom of the third inning of a score-less game. 

Then things slowed down. Hilbert was not only battling the Saxons, who hit a 3-run homer and whacked four doubles, but the Hawks committed seven errors, all in the bottom of the third.  

As the game progressed into the fourth, TyleLynn Langer became the first and only visitor to reach first base via a Saxon error. 

The Hawks held Alfred in check in the bottom half of the inning, but when Hilbert closed the game with another three quick outs in the top of the 5th, Alfred claimed game one.

Alfred's Alison Wickwire tossed her second no-hitter of the season while striking out nine Hawks in the process.   Victoria Dzaak took the loss and Jaelyn Gotham closed the game.

AU scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead in the second game.

Then in top of the third, Hilbert found ways to get on base and stayed long enough to score their first run.  Rebecca Bailey singled and moved to second thanks to a Saxon error which allowed Crystal Hailey to reach first.  TylerLynn Langer's single loaded the bases just before Rachel Collier hit into a fielder's choice.  Bailey was tagged out at home for the second out of the inning.  And in the next series, the runners on second and third advance ~ thanks to another error ~ and Hailey crossed home earning the Hawks run and cutting the score to 2-1.

Alfred turned the heat back up and posted four runs in each of their next at bats to claim a 10-1 victory in the 5th inning.

Langer was credited with the loss in the circle after giving up four hits which turned into four runs.  Jaelyn Gotham (two strikeouts) and Victoria Dzaak closed the game.

TylerLynn Langer went 2 for 2 as Bailey and Hailey picked up the other hits.

Hilbert (2-16), after playing three double headers over the last three days, has a day off before they return to AMCC play.  The Hawks will travel to Bradford April 16 and then will host Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, April 18th when they also honor their two seniors (Rachel Collier and Elissa Hall) before the first game.