Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Utica 7, RPI 6 - Game Two Box Score

RPI 6, Utica 0 - Game One Box Score

Troy, NY – TROY, N.Y. – The Utica College softball team hung on for a 7-6 victory in game two of a non-conference doubleheader against host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Wednesday evening.  UC, now 20-15 overall, lost game one 6-0 against the Engineers (24-12).
Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) went 5-for-7 (two doubles) with three runs scored and one RBI, while sophomore Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) went 2-for-4 with a team-best three RBIs over the course of both games.  Senior shortstop Jess Anson (Utica, NY/Proctor) added a 3-for-7 day with two runs scored and one RBI, as senior pitcher Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) pitched 4.2 innings and struck out two as she guided UC to a victory in game two.

RPI 6, Utica 0 – Game One

With a runner on in the bottom of the fourth of game one, senior Sara Heller singled to right center to bring in the Engineers first run.  RPI was able to load the bases soon after and capitalized as junior Aimee Konet (Houston, TX/Friendswood) singled up the middle, advancing two across for a 3-0 advantage.

Sophomore Jen Shields (North Reading, MA/North Reading) then banged in a triple to bring two more in and later scored on a throwing error for the six-run margin.

In the circle, rookie Kristina Weltzin allowed just five hits over 7.0 innings of work.  She struck out 10 and surrendered no walks.  Heller went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.

For Utica, senior Heather Kingsbury (Williamson, NY/Williamson) suffered the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits over 6.0 innings.  She struck out four batters, while walking just one.

Utica 7, RPI 6 – Game Two

Game two saw the visiting Pioneers strike first with sophomore Kristie Jones (Brewerton, NY/Paul V Moore) leading the charge on a two-run single to center in the top of the second inning.  The Engineers responded in their half of the frame as sophomore Tori Hunt doubled to right and junior Caitlin McGivern drove her in on a single to center.  Konet, who had a key single in game one, tacked on another hit to make it a 2-2 game, and later scored on an error to grab a 3-2 lead.

Utica was able to tie it up in the top of the third and added two more in the opening of the fifth as Jones once again brought a runner across on a single up the middle. RPI fought back in the bottom of the stanza as junior captain Gillian McCarthy singled, but the Pioneers added a run in the sixth and rookie Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) doubled in a run in the seventh to make it a 7-4 lead.

Rensselaer fought back in the bottom of the seventh as Heller and McCarthy hit back-to-back home runs over the left centerfield wall, but could not battle back.

Offensively for the Pioneers, junior Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) had a solid effort at the plate, going 4 for 4 with three runs scored.  In the circle, senior Haley Butler (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) earned the win, allowing just three runs on five hits over 4.2 innings of relief.

For the Engineers, senior Samantha Paulding shouldered the loss.  She surrendered seven runs on 14 hits, while striking out five and walking three.

Utica hosts Elmira on Thursday, beginning at 4pm.

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