Game 1 | Game 2 | Updated stats
HORNELL, N.Y. -- Nazareth opened its Empire 8 Conference softball schedule Saturday with a doubleheader against Alfred and the Golden Flyers dropped both ends to the Saxons 9-6 and 3-1.

The Golden Flyers are 2-12 overall and 0-2 in the E8. Alfred improved to 11-7 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

In the first game, Nazareth took a 6-3 lead after scoring five runs in the top of the sixth inning. Alfred, however, rallied to score six times in the bottom half of the inning. In the second game, Nazareth managed just four hits as Alfred recorded the sweep.

Sophomore Shauna Bardanis had three for Nazareth in the first game, including a run-scoring single in the first inning to score Kailey Ritch, who opened the inning with a double.

Nazareth had seven more hits in a five-run sixth inning. Ritch had a two-run single and senior Brittany Patenaude drove home another run with a single. Bardanis also had a run-scoring hit.

Angela Netta hit two home runs for the Saxons, including a two-run blast to highlight a six-run sixth inning. Nicole Hedrick drove home two more runs with a double after Nazareth starter Kelly Kocher, who finished with 11 strikeouts and seven walks.

Nazareth posed a scoring threat in the top of the seventh when freshman Sophia Rhoades reached on a one-out double. She was left stranded, however, as Alfred reliever Samantha Jo Muller struck out Patenaude and freshman Shannon Dowling to end the game.

In the second game, Hedrick tossed a four-hitter with no walks and five strikeouts to gain the victory. Alfred scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to build a 3-0 lead. Breeal Delgado had an RBI single for the Saxons in the third and Hedrick helped her cause with a run-scoring double in the sixth.

Nazareth scored its lone run in the seventh inning. Senior Casey Mathers singled with one out and later scored on a single by Nicole Bayona. Mathers pitched the second game for Nazareth and took the loss after yielding nine hits to go with four strikeouts.

Nazareth is home Sunday for a doubleheader against RIT starting at 1 p.m.