HORNELL, NY — The Alfred University softball team was swept by visiting Empire 8 Conference foe St. John Fisher in a Saturday afternoon doubleheader Hornell High School. Fisher won the first game 6-0 and took the nightcap 12-3 in five innings.

In the opener, Fisher pitcher Jessica Maurer retired the first 19 AU batters before freshman leftfielder Holly Seidewand (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) hit a one-out single in the seventh to break up Maurer’s bid for a no-hitter and perfect game. Maurer, who finished with six strikeouts, retired the next two batters to get the shutout.

Nicole Middleton had a double and three RBIs and Nicole Watkins a triple and a pair of runs driven in to pace Fisher (17-9, 8-2 Empire 8).

AU freshman hurler Ilana Price (Wilton, CT/Brien McMahon) allowed six runs (three earned) on nine hits while striking out one.

In the second game, Fisher scored eight runs in the second to take a 9-0 lead. After Alfred (16-10, 3-3 Empire 8) scored two in the fourth and one in the fifth, the visitors tallied three in the bottom of the fifth to end the contest. Middleton hit two homeruns (one a grand slam) and had five RBIs, while Sarah Gates added a solo shot in the first. Meghan Graves hit a three-run triple for the Cardinals.

Seidewand started on the mound for AU, allowing seven runs on five hits in 1 1/3 innings of work while striking out three. Junior Amanda Muncy (Redding, CA/Enterprise) relieved and allowed two earned runs on one hit in 2 2/3 innings before freshman Jesika LeBarron (Campbell, NY/Corning West) pitched the fifth, allowing three runs on three hits.

LeBarron hit her team-leading sixth homerun for AU, a two-run shot in the fourth. Freshman Jordan Siefer (Sylvania, OH/Sylvania Southview) had two hits, including a double, and scored a run, while freshman shortstop Karen Folts (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Alfred is in action next on Sunday, April 22, at 1 p.m. at RIT.