Utica 14, Nazareth 3 (5 Inn.) Game Two Box Score

Nazareth 4, Utica 3 Game One Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (4/29/2011) – The Utica College softball team split an Empire 8 Conference double header with visiting Nazareth College Friday afternoon at Greenman Field. The Pioneers lost a nail biter, 4-3, in game one, before exploding for a convincing 14-3 rule-rule shortened game two victory. Sophomore first baseman Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) led the way for UC going 4-for-7 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Allie Jennings (New York Mills, NY/New York Mills) had a career day, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored in game two.

The Pioneers (16-17, 3-9 Empire 8) fell behind 3-0 early in game one, and could not get their bats going until it was too late, as Nazareth (5-25, 1-9 Empire 8) led the entire contest and earned the one run victory. The Pioneers cut the visitors lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning when Plummer tripled to right field, scoring senior Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent).

Naz went on to score one more run in the top of the sixth inning to increase its lead to 4-1 before the Pioneers made their final push. Freshman Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) and junior short stop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor) each drove in one run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Golden Flyers lead to one, 4-3. However, Nazareth pitcher Casey Mathers was able to hang on for the victory. Mathers finished game one with six strikeouts.

Utica junior pitcher Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) struck out five in her seventh loss of the season.

Game two proved to be a completely different story as the Pioneers tacked on nine runs in the first two innings and never looked back as they earned the 14-3 victory in five innings. Five different Pioneers posted at least two hits in game two and they took advantage of five Nazareth errors to earn the convincing 11-run victory. Junior hurler Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) went all five innings for Utica, striking out one, as she earned her third win of the year.

Martin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI in game two, while sophomore Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) also went 2-for-3 at the dish with a team-high three runs scored. Jones and Plummer each finished game two with two hits, while sophomore Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, NY/Brockport) went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Senior captain Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) posted one hit, two RBIs and one run scored.

Jones finished the day going 3-for-6 with three runs scored and one RBI over the course of both games, while Martin added three hits of her own.

UC returns to action Saturday when it hosts Empire 8 foe Stevens Institute of Technology on senior day at Greenman Field. The mid-day double header will conclude the Pioneers' 2011 campaign. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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