Utica 7, Stevens 6 Game One Box Score

Utica 11, Stevens 9 Game Two Box Score

Utica, NY (4-30-11) - The Utica College softball team beat Stevens Institute of Technology (21-17, 7-7 Empire 8) in a conference double header Saturday and the Pioneers finished their 2011 campaign with an overall record of 18-17. UC won game one 7-6, and used a late rally to take game two, 11-9, as the Pioneers finished the season above .500 for the first time since 2006.

In game one, Stevens jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the course of the first three inings.The Ducks scored two runs on two hits in the first two innings and tacked on another in the third. In the bottom of the fourth, Utica scored its first run off a two-out hit up the middle from junior shortstop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor), scoring catcher Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) from third.

The Ducks added another run in the top of the fifth as they took a 6-1 lead. UC answered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs on two hits as they cut the lead in half, 6-3. Senior centerfielder Kim Martin (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent) had an RBI single to left field and Ingalls knocked in the other run on a ground out. After relief pitcher Stephanie Romanow (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) shut down the heart of the Ducks line-up in order, the Pioneers came up with four runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth to take a 7-6 advantage. Utica ripped four consecutive hits, scoring three runs, before sophomore Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) doubled to the left field wall scoring freshman Katie Cadieux (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford). Cadieux, Plummer, freshman Rebecca Ornstein (Howell, NJ/Howell High School), and senior Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) each tallied an RBI in the inning.

In the seventh, Utica had one out as Stevens put the tying run aboard with a single. The runner would advance to second on a wild pitch, however, remained there as Romanow retired the next two batters to earn her fourth victory of the season. Romanow allowed only one hit in 2.2 innings of relief while fanning two.

In game two, the Ducks scored one run in the first off a Utica error. UC came right back in the bottom half with three runs on three hits as freshman Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) and sophomore #Hannah Barton hit back-to-back home runs with two outs. Jones now has six home runs with a team-high 36 RBIs, while Barton finished year with a the team-high seven home runs and is second with 31 RBIs.

UC added to its lead in the bottom of the third, with a two-out double to left field by Jones to take a 4-1 lead. Stevens tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the fifth with two runs on four hits.

The Pioneers answered right back as they regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, 6-4. Jones and Anson knocked in runs on a ground ball and a sacrifice fly. The Ducks, however, would not go down without a fight and retaliated with a three-run sixth inning to earn a 7-6 advantage. In the bottom of the sixth, Utica loaded the bases and had two outs before putting up five runs. Jones ripped a two RBI double and Barton followed with a three-run home run. Stevens scored two runs in the top of the seventh but came up short as the Pioneers completed the sweep.

Martin, the college's all-time hits leader, went 5-for-8 on the day with five runs scored and two stolen bases. Barton and Jones combined for six hits (three each), four runs scored (two each), three home runs and 10 RBI's. Gerlach added two hits, one RBI and one run scored with a double for UC.

The Pioneers finished their 2011 campaign on a 13-game home stand which resulted in an 8-5 record. UC will graduate two seniors, Martin and Gerlach, and will look to its returning players to step up and lead the way for 2012.