The Utica College softball team split a doubleheader at Oswego State on Wednesday. The Pioneers dominated game one and shut out the Lakers 10-0. Oswego responded with a 5-2 victory in game two. Jackie Gallagher (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) went 5-for-8 and scored two runs while Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, N.Y.) went 3-for-7 with one homerun and three RBIs in the doubleheader.
UC did not show any hesitation and jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one. Gallagher started the hitting streak with her first single of the contest. After a Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) ground out, Barton stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer. The Pioneers rallied late in the game picking up eight runs in two innings. At the top of the fourth inning, Kim Martin (Prospect, N.Y.) notched her first hit of the game with a double. Gallagher would advance to first base on an error while Martin scored making it 3-0. Barton notched her second RBI of the day with a single. The floodgates opened in the fifth inning with the Pioneers totaling six runs forcing the run-rule on Oswego and ending the game early. Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, N.Y.) opened the late rally with her first double. The hits continued when Courtney Rainbow (Truxton, N.Y.) homered scoring two Pioneers. Plummer followed with a single sending in two runs. The Pioneers scored four more runs off of six hits and one error. Madison Dinsmore (Theresa, N.Y.) pitched a complete game shutout with three strikeouts and only allowed two hits.
Oswego turned its fortunes around in game two and came out on top 5-2. After two scoreless innings the Lakers woke up and earned three runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Lakers earned two runs off of two errors by UC. Haley Butler (New Hartford, N.Y.) was put on the mound halfway through the inning hoping to spark the Pioneers, but Oswego was able to score one more run off of a wild pitch. UC was able to inch closer at the top of the fourth with Rainbow scoring off of an error by the Lakers. Gerlach led the sixth inning with a double. Angel Donaghue (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) was able to send Gerlach home with a single, but the Pioneers were unable to rally from their three-run deficit in the final inning.
UC will return to action Saturday at Nazareth College. The contest is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Nazareth Softball Field.
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