Utica, 5, Farmingdale State 4 - Box Score

Utica 7, McDaniel 5 - Box Score

Kissimmee, Fl. (3/14/2011) – The Utica College softball team went 2-0 at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fl. Monday and improved its overall record to 3-1 on the year. The Pioneers used a seventh inning rally to down Farmingdale State 5-4 in game one, and jumped out to a quick start in game two en route to defeating McDaniel, 7-5. Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) and Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) each posted a team-high four hits over the course of two games, while sophomore third baseman Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, NY/Brockport) went 3-for-7 with a team-high four RBI's on the day.

In game one the Pioneers jumped out to a quick 3-0 in the top half of the first inning behind an RBI single from Ingalls and a two RBI single from Barton. Farmingdale responded in the bottom half of the frame with two runs to cut the Pioneers' lead to 3-2 after one full inning of play.

Farmingdale knotted the score in the bottom half of the second when it managed two hits, with two outs, to tie the game at 3-3.

UC senior outfielder Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) got the Pioneers on the board in the fourth inning when she got on base after a fielder's choice, stole second and eventually scored after two straight errors. Farmingdale tied the score again in the bottom of the sixth to send the contest into the seventh inning with the score knotted at 4-4.

Martin essentially had the same luck in the top of the seventh when she reached base on an error by the pitcher, moved to second on a sacrifice by classmate Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South), stole third, and eventually scored the game-winning run on an error by the catcher.

Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) started the game on the mound for the Pioneers and pitched five strong innings, totaling two strike outs. Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Romanow (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) came on in the sixth inning and allowed just three hits in the final two innings to earn her first collegiate victory.

Game two's 7-5 victory was all Utica until the top of the seventh inning. The Pioneers opened the scoring in the bottom half of the second behind and RBI single from freshman second baseman Rebecca Ornstein (Howell, NJ/Howell High School), an RBI triple from Martin, and an RBI single from Ingalls.

The Pioneers tacked on two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning after Martin led off with a double and eventually scored after a sacrifice fly from Ingalls. Barton's double drove in the second run of the inning and gave Utica a commanding 6-0 lead. UC added what proved to be an important insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Barton singled to center field and scored Plummer to give UC a 7-0 lead headed into the top of the seventh.

McDaniel made a strong rally in the seventh, scoring five runs, but UC's Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) came on to close the door to give the Pioneers' a two run victory. Freshman Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) earn the victory on the mound, striking out two in six full innings, for UC.

Martin finished the day with five runs scored over the course of two games, while Maggie McLaughlin (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland High School), Allie Jennings (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills), Rebecca Ornstein (Howell, NJ/Howell High School) and Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor) each totaled one hit.

The Pioneers return to the field on Tuesday at 1 p.m. when they take on Endicott in their first game of the day. UC will square off against St. Benedict in the night cap at 5 p.m.

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