Utica 7, Alfred 6 - Game Two Box Score

Alfred 9, Utica 7 - Game One Box Score

Utica, NY – The Utica College softball team split a conference double header against Empire 8 rival Alfred University Sunday. The Pioneers are now 11-11 overall and have a 2-4 mark in the conference, while the Saxons move to 10-5 on the season and 1-3 in E8 play. Senior centerfielder Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) led UC with three hits on the day, including a three-run home run to along with two runs scored and a stolen base.

In game one, the Pioneers came out and took an early 2-0 in the top of the first of a solo home run from sophomore first baseman Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) and a two-out single from senior Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South). The next inning, UC added another run when Martin singled, stole second, and scored on a single from sophomore catcher Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany). The Saxons answered in the bottom of the third with five runs on five hits as they took a 5-3 lead. Sophomore Stephanie Romanow (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) was relieved after pitching 2.2 innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits and two walks. The Pioneers put together a three run fourth inning and regained a slight 6-5 lead. Plummer had an RBI double and freshman Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) added a RBI single for UC. Utica would get an insurance run in the top of the fifth as freshman Rebecca Ornstein (Howell, NJ/Howell High School) sinlged scoring junior shortstop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor). Alfred retaliated with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, 7-7. After shutting down the Pioneers in their next two at-bats, the Saxons scored twice in the sixth en route to a 9-7 victory.

In the second game, UC converted four runs off two Saxon errors and RBI singles from Jones and freshman utility player Katie Cadieux (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) to take a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. AU answered with six runs, over the course of the next three innings, to take a 6-4 lead. After two scoreless innings for the Pioneers, they responded with a three-run fourth inning off a blast from Martin scoring Cadieux and Gerlach. Junior Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) recorded her eighth win of the season as she allowed six runs on six hits in one of her shortest outings of the season. Romannow came in and threw two shutout innings for Utica while striking out three batters and only allowing two hits. Junior pitcher Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) registered the save for UC as they won 7-6.

The Pioneers return to action Wednesday as they host SUNY Oswego. The non-conference double header is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. and will be held at Greenman Field in Utica, NY