UTICA, NY (April 15, 2009) - The Utica College softball team has now lost four straight games after two losses to visiting Oswego State at Greenman Field Wednesday afternoon. The Pioneers allowed five unanswered runs in the last four innings as they dropped a 5-1 decision against the Lakers in game one. Oswego used four runs in the top of the seventh to earn the sweep as they defeated UC 10-6 in game two. Sophomore Kim Martin went 6-for-8 on the day to improve her average to .454 on the year, while senior Abby Drew returned from an injury to hit her school-record 21st career home run. Senior Rinae Olsen went 3-for-7 on the day with three singles and one RBI.
With the two losses the Pioneers fall to 12-14 overall headed into an Empire 8 Conference double header against visiting Ithaca College Saturday. Oswego advanced it record to 6-13 overall. The last time these two teams met the Pioneers swept the Lakers by a combined score of 13-0 on April 19, 2006.
Senior pitcher Michelle Jackson stole the show in game one by fanning six Pioneers and scattering seven hits en route to a complete-game victory. The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when sophomore Kristin Levin drove in freshman Rebecca Corsones with an RBI single. Oswego answered with two runs in the top of the fourth and never looked back as they cruised to a four run victory. Levin struck out nine batters on the mound for the Pioneers.
Utica seemed to be in control of game two after jumping out to a 4-1 lead over the course of the first two innings. Drew's three-run home run in the bottom of the first game UC a 3-0 lead and sophomore Claire Gerlach hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second to give the Pioneers a commanding three run lead.
The Lakers answered with five runs in the next two innings to take a 6-4 lead into the fifth inning. The Pioneers tied the score at 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth behind an RBI single from Rinae Olsen and an RBI double from Rebecca Corsones. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Oswego took advantage of three errors in the top of the seventh and scored four runs on two hits to earn the game two victory, 10-6. The Lakers posted five RBIs in two out situations in game two as they earned their seventh win of the season.
UC returns to Empire 8 Conference play Saturday when they host regional power Ithaca College for a double header at Greenman Field. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
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