COLLEGE SOFTBALL: ATHENS GRAD BENNETT TOSSES SHUTOUT FOR ALFRED IN EMPIRE 8 TITLE GAME; NAMED TOURNEY MVP (2022-05-08)

Valley Sports Report
ALFRED, N.Y. — Athens grad Megan Bennett pitched a shutout in the Empire 8 softball championship game, and was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player here Saturday.

Bennett tossed a five-hit, six-inning gem in Alfred University’s 9-0 win over St. John Fisher in the title game. She fanned seven and walked one to improve to 7-5 on the season.

On Thursday, Bennett earned the win with two hitless innings of relief in Alfred’s 3-2 eight-inning win over Nazareth in the opening round of the Empire 8 Tournament.

On Friday, Bennett earned her national-best eighth save with two hitless innings of relief in a 5-1 win over St. John Fisher in the semifinals.

In all, Bennett pitched 10 shutout innings, allowing five hits, while striking out 14 and walking three.

St. John Fisher played its way back to the championship game, and beat Alfred, 6-2, Saturday to force a winner-take-all game in the double-elimination tournament.

Alfred has now won two Empire 8 titles in a row.

On the season, Bennett is 7-5 with eight saves, and a 2.36 ERA. She has 103 strikeouts and 22 walks in 83 innings.

The Lady Saxons, now 25-14, await word on their NCAA Division III Regional seed and opening-round opponent.

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IN PHOTO: Megan Bennett (with her MVP Plaque) is flanked by Alfred U. athletic director Paul Vecchio, and Assistant Empire 8 Commissioner Jess Wilcox. … PHOTO COURTESY OF ALFRED UNIV. ATHLETIC SITE.