Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Utica, NY (4/20/13)- Junior Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) hit a grand slam in each game to help the Utica College softball team sweep league-leader Ithaca College 8-7 and 12-8 in Empire 8 action.  The wins marked the first time in program history that Utica has beaten Ithaca.

Utica 8, Ithaca 7- Game One Final

The Pioneers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning as senior Dominique Carcone (Frankfort, NY/New Hartford) singled to score classmate Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany).  Then, just three batters later, Monroe hit a grand slam to left center to pad the Pioneer lead.

The Bombers were able to score four runs over the next two innings, but the Pioneers rebounded with three runs as Ingalls, Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), and Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) drove in a run each.

Ithaca added three runs in the top of the sixth to come within one, but it was not enough as the Pioneer defense held on for the win.

Freshman Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) picked up the win, while classmate Erica Colucci (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and sophomore Cassidy Thompson (Bend, OR/West Valley) also saw action.  Thompson collected her third save of the season.

Russell and Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) each went 3-for-4 in game one.  Carcone, Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) had two hits apiece and Ingalls, Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk), and Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) also had hits.

Utica 12, Ithaca 8- Game Two Final

Once again, the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, 3-0 after two innings, however the Bombers were able to even the score 3-3 after the third.  Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) regained the lead with her second grand slam of the day, and conference-best eighth home run on the season.

Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany), Dominique Carcone (Frankfort, NY/New Hartford), and Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) were all 2-for-4 on the day, while Ingalls had a three-run homer, her fifth of the year.  Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central), Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), and Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) each had two hits and Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) added one hit and two runs scored. 

Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) struck out two and allowed five hits to pick up her conference-best 12th win of the season.  Erica Colucci (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) fanned three in three innings of work.

UC returns to action Sunday as it hosts Stevens Institute of Technology in the final conference games of the regular season.  The Pioneers have a shot at winning their first ever Empire 8 regular season championship.  First game is scheduled for 1 p.m.


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