Softball | 5/7/2010 2:04:45 PM

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ALFRED, NY - The RIT softball team (17-20) dropped its opening game of the 2010 Empire 8 Tournament, falling to top-seed Alfred (33-4), 10-4 at Alfred State College on Friday afternoon.  RIT will now play No. 2 seed Ithaca in an elimination game at 2:15 p.m. 

The Tigers jumped to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Alfred, ranked 25th nationally, responded with two in the bottom of the frame and never looked back.  The Saxons scored in each of its first five at-bats, the big blow, a four-run third inning that extended their lead to 7-1.  Alfred led 9-1 after four innings before RIT scored twice in the fifth and once in the sixth.

RIT second baseman Allee Emmi (Cicero, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) was 2-for-2 with a run scored, RBI, and walk for the Tigers.  Shannon McCormick (Auburn, NY/Auburn), Michelle Tabisz (Silver Spring, MD/Paint Branch) and Carlissa Cole (Alden, NY/Alden) also drove in runs. 

Ashley Passaro was 2-for-4 with a two-run double for the Saxons.  Alfred got to RIT starting pitcher Brittany Kemp (Dansville, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) early and often, ripping eight hits and drawing four walks in six innings.  Kemp did strike out five batters.

Alfred hurler Nicole Hedrick picked up her 17th win of the season, allowing seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out four batters.  She was also 2-for-4 with a run scored and run batted in.

If RIT defeats Ithaca, they will play either Alfred or No. 3 St. John Fisher at 11 a.m. Saturday.