Utica 5, RPI 4 Game One Box Score

RPI 3, Utica 2 Game Two Box Score

Utica, NY (4-27-11) - The Utica College softball team (15-16, 2-8 Empire 8) split with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (22-8, 3-1 Liberty Leaague) Wednesday in their last non-conference double header of the season. Sophomore third baseman Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, NY/Brockport) led UC going 5-for-6 on the day including two solo home runs.

In game one, RPI opened up the scoring in the top of third inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, sophomore pitcher Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) walked in one run before getting the next two batters to pop out to first base. The Pioneers answered in the the bottom half of the inning with three runs on four hits to take the lead. Senior center fielder Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) had a one-out single through the left side and later scored when sophomore Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) stroked her fourth home run of the season. After back-to-back, two-out hits from freshman Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) and Barton, senior Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) extended the Pioneer lead to 3-1 on a fielders choice that scored Jones. The Engineers mustered up one run in the top of the fourth on two hits. After loading the bases with no outs, RPI scord one run on a sacrifice fly before the home team made back-to-back outs. UC scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth, when the college's all-time hits leader, Martin tied another record as she led-off the inning with her eight career triple. The Engineers tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the seventh when relief pitcher Charlene Omanski ripped a two-run home run to center field. UC loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning and with two-outs when shortstop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor) converted the walk off for the 5-4 victory. Sophomore Stephanie Romananow improved to 3-4 on the season on the mound.

In game two, Utica struck first in the top of the second when Barton led off with a solo rope to left field. RPI would answer right back with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. After three scoreless innings, by both teams, the Engineers registered an insurance run as lead-off hitter Kelly Berkert struck a two-out single up the middle and RPI took a 3-1 advantage. Barton led off the top of the sixth in familar fashion with another home run to left field and cut the Engineer lead to one run, 3-2. RPI's Charlene Omanski came into to pitch, folllowing the home run, and retired the next 6-of-7 Pioneers' as the twilight double header resulted in a split.

Martin recorded four hits including a double, triple and two runs scored, while Ingalls added a home run, three RBI's on four hits and two runs scored for UC.

The Pioneers retun to action Friday as they host Nazareth College at Greenman Field in Utica, NY. Game one is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.