Utica, NY (4/30/13)- The Utica College softball team will close out its regular season this week as it tries to build momentum heading into the Empire 8 Conference tournament.  UC kicks off the week at home against Union College Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. and then travels across town to take on SUNYIT Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Home Sweet Home: The Pioneers have been dominant at home this season, compiling a 19-1 record at Greenman Field… Utica has 10 home wins this season where it has scored 10 or more runs and it also has five shutouts on its home turf… UC has outscored opponents 188-57 through 20 home games this season.

Leading the E8: The Pioneers not only sit atop the Empire 8 Conference with a 9-3 record, but they are also leading the league in seven offensive categories which include total runs scored (254), total hits (362), home runs (40), RBI's (229), stolen bases (56), on base percentage (.411) and slugging an impressive .514.

Nationally: Utica is receiving national recognition as the Pioneers are receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll for the first time ever... UC has also been ranked No. 1 in the Northeast region in the past two NCAA regional polls, also a program first… It was hard for the Pioneers to go unnoticed, as they have been putting up some remarkable numbers this season... UC is currently 2nd in the nation in home runs per game (1.21), and 13th nationally with a .529 slugging percentage… Utica's offensive output has led it to a national ranking of 27th in scoring with 7.12 runs per game… Junior Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) ranks 14th nationally in home runs per game (.31) and leads the Empire 8 Conference and ranks 17th nationally with 9 home runs on the season.

Scouting Union: The Dutchwomen are 16-21 overall and 5-5 in the Liberty League... They are 3-1 in their last four games and fresh off a 6-2 victory against SUNY Plattsburgh this past Sunday... Union is led by Junior Alyssa Wolejko and senior Samantha Chevalier …Wolejko has a .361 batting average and leads her team with 39 hits on the year while Chevalier is second on their team in batting average (.341), second in hits (30) and first in homeruns (7)...  UC is 11-3 against the Dutchwomen since 2003…Last year the Pioneers lost both meetings, 5-7 and 4-9… Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) went 6-for-7 with three runs and two RBIs, including one home run, while Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) had three hits and one home run on the day.

Scouting SUNYIT: The Wildcats (21-11, 15-5 NEAC) are coming off two wins, 5-2 and 8-2, over  Cazenovia  Sunday and have won their last four games at home as part of a six game home stand, wrapping up with Wednesday's double header...  SUNYIT is led by senior Lyndsey Brognano who is batting an impressive .407 on the season to go along with 46 hits, 3 home runs and 19 RBI's... UC is 12-2 against SUNYIT since 2005... Last Year the Pioneers swept the Wildcats by score of 5-1 and 2-0… Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) went 3-for-6 with one run scored on the afternoon, while Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) went 3-for-6 with two RBIs. 

Looking Ahead: UC will be back out on the field on Friday to take on 4th seeded Alfred University in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament hosted by Utica. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.


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