Utica, NY (4/16/13)- The Utica College softball team hits the road Wednesday looking to extend its six-game winning streak as it takes on the University of Rochester. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
Weekend Recap: UC is coming off four conference wins against Nazareth and St. John Fisher… On Saturday, UC downed Naz 10-1 and 6-2…
Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) went 5-for-8 on the day with two home runs while sophomore
Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) struck out four in 5.2 innings of work… On Sunday, UC had thrilling wins over St. John Fisher College, 6-2 and 8-2… Sophomore
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Utica to a 6-2 win in the first game… In game two,
Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) hit two homers, while Plummer and freshman
Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) each had two-run shots… Freshman
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) had eight strikeouts in 16 innings pitched to pick up three wins on the weekend.
Where We Sit: UC is currently 18-8 overall and sits tied for third place in the conference with a 5-3 record… The Pioneers have a shot to make it into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007… UC has outscored opponents 167-75 on the season.
Monroe Garners E8 Honors: Junior
Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) was named Empire 8 Player of the Week, Monday… Monroe batted .429 and hit four home runs to help Utica to a 6-0 record last week… In Empire 8 games, she had a .444 average with three home runs... Her biggest performance was against Fisher on Sunday when she went 4-for-6 on the day with two homers, including a two-run shot… On the week, Monroe scored six runs and totaled seven RBIs with a slugging percentage of 1.357.
Fitzgerald Named UC Athlete of the Week: Sophomore
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) was named the College's Female Athlete of the Week Monday after smashing a walk off grand slam Sunday to lift the Pioneers over conference power St. John Fisher... Utica trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning and tied the game before loading the bases for Fitzgerald, who cleared the bags with a moon shot to left center giving the Pioneers a 6-2 victory... The Sunday sweep against Fisher was only the third and fourth time in 20+ games Utica beat Fisher and it extended UC's winning streak to six straight… On the season, Fitzgerald currently leads the team in total bases (50), hits (30), RBI (26) and homeruns (six).
Its Out of Here!: The Pioneers have blasted a league-best 31 home runs on the season… Eight different players have hit at least one homer…
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) and
Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) are tied for the team lead with six apiece… Seniors
Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) and
Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), and freshman Alyssa Russell have each hit five over the fence… Junior
Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) has two home runs, while freshmen
Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and
Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) each have one.
Scouting U of R: The Yellow Jackets are 9-15 overall and 5-1 in the Liberty League… They are coming off a 2-2 conference weekend against Skidmore College and RPI… They are led by junior Nina Korn who has a .310 batting average with four home runs, and 15 RBI… The Pioneers are 2-8 against Rochester dating back to 2004…. Last year UC lost both games 7-6 and 4-3… Junior
Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) led UC with three hits, two RBI and one run scored, while
Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) also registered three hits on the day.
Looking Ahead: UC has a huge weekend coming up as it takes on Ithaca and Stevens in the final conference games of the season… UC will take on league-leading Ithaca College on Saturday, before facing Stevens on Sunday for the Pioneers' senior game… The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
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