HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Houghton softball fell in a twinbill to visiting Alfred University in E8 action on Tuesday afternoon.

The Saxons, currently sitting the No. 3 spot in the conference standings, won the first game 9-0 in five innings before closing out the day with a 13-6 victory.

Houghton produced three hits in the opener, with Danielle Nelson, Kareena Ulfig and Hannah Fish registering singles. Already trailing 9-0 in the fourth, Houghton was looking to put a rally together in the bottom of the frame. Nelson and Ulfig hit back to back one out singles, and after a strike out, the runners each moved into scoring position with a double steal. However, the threat would end with a pop out to close the inning.

Ulfig went the distance on the mound, allowing nine runs on 14 hits.

The second game featured more offense early from the Highlanders. The high-powered Saxons jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first, but Houghton quickly answered in the bottom half of the inning. Houghton's first six batters each reached base, with two doubles, two singles, a walk and an error. Ulfig drove in the first two runs with a double, before Angelina Tantillo drove in the third with an RBI single. Houghton would score again on an error to take a 4-3 lead after one.

After the Saxons tied the score at four in the second, Houghton responded with another go-ahead run the bottom half on another Tantillo RBI single.

Alfred scored twice in the third to go back up by a run, then added solo run in the fourth to go up 7-5. The visitors then put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth inning and added two more scores in the seventh to go up 13-5. 

The Highlanders would score their final run in the bottom of the seventh.

Tantillo led the offense with three hits followed by Nelson's two doubles.

Abigail Pitts got the start and went 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. Olivia Carr went 3.2 innings, with six runs allowed on eight hits.

The six runs is the most Houghton has scored against Alfred since plating nine in a 10-9 loss in 2017.

Houghton is back in action on the road vs. Keuka on Friday, April 25 at 3 and 5 p.m.