Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Utica College softball team swept a pair of games against Houghton College 13-5 and 12-0 on Friday afternoon at Greenman Field.  Both contests were shortened due to the run rule, with game one going six innings and game two lasting the minimum five innings. 

Utica 13, Houghton 5 (6 Innings) – Game One Final

The Pioneers scored at least one run in each of the first four innings, and they poured in five more runs in the top of the sixth to initiate the run-rule.  Senior catcher Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) led the way for the Pioneers once again in game one, going 2-for-4 with a team-best 4 RBI and two runs scored.  Both of Ingall's hits were home runs, in the first and third innings, helping to spark the Pioneers to an eight run victory in six innings.

Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) went 3-for-4 with two RBI for UC, while Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) and Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) each added two hits apiece. The Pioneers scored all 13 runs on 13 hits and Briona Enny (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) got the win on the mound for the Pioneers, her third of the year, after pitching four full innings while striking out seven.  Erica Colucci (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) came on in the top of the fifth inning to close out the contest.  Colucci did not allow a hit in two innings and struck out three. 

Utica freshman Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) ripped a two-RBI home run in the sixth inning to essentially seal the victory for Utica.  Russell now has three home runs on the year.

Junior shortstop Samantha Patoff went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs for the Highlands, who were considered the home team in the box score because the game was originally scheduled to be played at Houghton.

Utica 12, Houghton 0 (5 Innings)- Game Two Final

The Pioneers picked up where they left off scoring three runs in the top of the first.  UC again had at least one run in each inning and nine different players recorded one or more hits in the second tilt.  Ingalls and Carcone went 2-for-2, with Ingalls collecting one run and one RBI.   

With an eight-run lead, Fitzgerald and junior Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) homered in the fifth to insure the run-rule victory.  Russell and Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) we each 2-For-3 and Matan finished 2-for-4 with two runs. Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) and Sarah Kinney (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) also recorded hits for Utica. 

Freshman Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) struck out seven and gave up just two hits in four innings of work, before sophomore Cassidy Thompson (Bend, OR/West Valley) came in in the fifth to close the door. 

UC, now 11-7 overall, will travel to Alfred University tomorrow in search of its first Empire 8 Conference victory.  The first game is set to begin at 1 p.m.


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