Utica 8, Hamilton 3 - Game One Box Score

Utica 6, Hamilton 3 - Game Two Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (4/7/11) – The Utica College softball team swept a pair of non conference games against local rival Hamilton College Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers won game one 8-3 and completed the double header sweep with a 6-3 victory in game two. Sophomore catcher Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) had another big day, going 4-for-7 at the dish with three RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Kayla Cole had her first collegiate home run to help spark the Pioneers' game one win.

UC (10-8) got great pitching all afternoon, starting with junior Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford)'s complete-game, three strikeout performance in game one. Junior pitcher Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) racked up her seventh win of the season by scattering eight hits in seven innings of work in game two.

Sophomore first baseman Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) went 4-for-8 with three runs scored on the day, while classmate Hannah Barton (Adams Basin, NY/Brockport) added three hits, two RBIs and one run scored.

Hamilton's Lisa Faraci went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs scored over the course of both games, while Liz Reid and Melissa Kaknis each added three hits and two RBIs for the Continentals (1-13).

The Pioneers jumped out to a 7-0 lead over the course of the first five innings in game one. Senior Claire Gerlach (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) ripped a two RBI double to ignite UC's four run fourth inning. Cole closed out the fourth inning scoring with a home run to give UC a 6-0 lead. Gerlach added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, scoring Ingalls, to give the Pioneers' a 7-0 lead.

Hamilton gave UC a scare in the top of the sixth inning by scoring three runs but Butler remained composed on the mound and hung on for her second victory of the season.

Utica jumped on the Continentals early again in game two, scoring five runs in the first two innings behind two RBIs from Barton, one from junior shortstop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor) and another from Ingalls. Hamilton tacked on two runs in the top of the third after Leigh Sherrow posted an RBI sacrifice fly and Reid added an RBI single.

The Pioneers' early 6-2 lead proved to be enough as Kingsbury closed the door behind two strikeouts, nine ground outs and eight fly outs.

UC's six game home stand has now come to a close and the Pioneers hit the road on Saturday when they return to Empire 8 Conference play against host RIT. The double header is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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