Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – Freshman hurler Ilana Price (Wilton, CT/Brien McMahon) allowed just one hit and one run in 7.0 innings and Alfred University erupted for six runs in the seventh inning to defeat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 9-1 in the elimination game on day two of the four-team, double elimination ECAC Tournament at Doris Robison Field.

The Saxons, the fourth seed, improve to 23-14 and advance to meet Union College in the championship round beginning at 12:15pm. Alfred, which lost to Union, 4-0, on Saturday, must defeat the Dutchwomen twice to claim the title. Union needs one win for the ECAC championship. Rensselaer, the top seed, falls to 25-10.

Price was stellar in the circle for the Saxons, allowing just one run (unearned) in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Julianne Bass (Costa Mesa, CA/Newport Harbor) reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced the base runner from third.

A two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning by freshman Amanda Knight (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright), gave the Saxons a 3-1 and the visiting team posted six runs on six hits in the top of the seventh to seal the victory. Alfred opened the inning with three straight singles to bring up Price, who lifted a shot over the reach of the infield to bring home a run. Freshman Jordan Siefer (Sylvania, OH/Sylvania Southview), who finished 1 for 4 in the game, added a two-run single and classmate Lauren Peterson (Abingdon, MD/Harford Tech) grounded out to the first baseman to bring home a run.

In addition to Price, who went 1 for 3 at the plate with a run scored an RBI, Alfred saw seven players record a hit. Freshman Nicole Messura (Albion, NY/Albion) was 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI, classmate Jesika LeBarron (Campbell, NY/Corning West) was 2 for 4 with a run, and Knight finished 1 for 4 with a run and three RBI.

For Rensselaer, sophomore Sara Finkbeiner (Napanoch, NY/Ellenville) recorded the lone hit while classmate Michelle Street (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa), the starter, and freshman Michelle Bianchetti (Highland Mills, NY/John S. Burke Catholic) combined for eight strikeouts and six walks. Street allowed just one run on two hits with five walks and six strikeouts before giving way to Bianchetti, who gave up eight runs on nine hits with a walk and two strikeouts.