ITHACA, N.Y. -- The fourth-seeded Alfred Saxons (35-6) beat the fifth-seeded King's Lady Monarchs (22-17) 9-1 in six innings in Thursday's second game of the NCAA Regional hosted by Ithaca College. Alfred will take on top-seeded Cortland Friday at 2 p.m. with King's facing Keuka in an elimination game at 10 a.m.
The Saxons pounded out eight hits over the last two innings, scoring all nine of their runs. The late rally was sparked by back-to-back home runs in the fifth by sophomore third baseman Molly Shepherd and senior shortstop Jesika LeBarron. Shepherd's home run -- her third of the season was a three-run shot.
LeBarron and Shepherd had two hits apiece; sophomore pitcher Nicole Hedrick added two and freshman Hana Gross led Alfred with three.
Sophomore left fielder Angela Netta led off the Alfred fifth with a walk and Gross followed with a single. After both runners moved up two bases on a throwing error, Hedrick singled in Gross and Shepherd homered over the left field wall. LeBarron hit the next pitch over the fence in left center field for her fifth home run of the season.
Senior center fielder Shannon Mather singled in a run in the bottom of the sixth and scored on a passed ball. LeBarron ended the game with a run-scoring single.
Hedrick improved to 18-3 with a complete-game four-hitter. She struck out five and walked one.
The Lady Monarchs scored their run in the top of the sixth. Senior shortstop Meaghan Galvin led off with a single and advanced to third on a
pair of infield ground outs then scored on a balk. She was one of just three King's batters to advance past first base; junior third baseman
Gretchen Tholen (
pictured) doubled in the first and freshman second baseman
Kayla Rutkowski led off the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.
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