Utica, NY (4/9/13)- The Utica College softball team will have a busy week ahead of itself as it plays ten games, all at home, in six days.  UC kicks off the week hosting cross-town rival, Hamilton College Tuesday afternoon at 5 p.m. and Oswego State Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Weekend Recap: The Pioneers went 3-1 last week, sweeping Houghton College and picking up its first Empire 8 win of the season with an 11-0 victory over Alfred University, before falling to the Saxons 6-5 in game two… UC combined to outscore opponents 41-11 over the four games… Utica hit ten home runs on the weekend… Senior Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) blasted three over the fence, while Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) and Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) each had two homers… Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker), Bridgette Plummer (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville), and Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) had one home run apiece.

Monroe Named UC Athlete of the Week: Freshman Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) was named the College's Female Athlete of the Week, Monday after leading UC with two shutout wins last week against Houghton and Alfred… On Friday, she tossed four shutout innings allowing just two hits while fanning seven as UC downed the Highlanders 12-0 in five innings...  The first-year Pioneer followed up with a complete game shutout on Saturday giving UC its first conference win of the season as she allowed five hits, no walks, and striking out another seven to move her overall record to 6-4.

400 Club: Three different players currently have a batting average of .400… Sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) and senior Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) are tied for second in the conference with five home runs and 21 RBI… Fitzgerald has 43 total bases and a .662 slugging percentage, while Ingalls has 41 total bases and a .683 slugging percentage… Junior Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) also has a batting average of .400 with eight hits on 20 at bats… She also has six stolen bases.

Young Guns: Freshmen Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central), and Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) are all making their presence felt in their first year campaigns… Russell has a .362 batting average, four home runs and five stolen bases while starting all 20 games… Smith has a .359 average while appearing in 16 games… Ellis is batting .341 with one home run and three stolen bases.

Scouting Hamilton: The Continentals are 7-13 overall and 1-5 in the NESCAC… They are coming off a 1-2 weekend at Amherst College… Hamilton is led by freshman Olivia Gozdz who has a .429 batting average with nine RBI… UC is 12-5 against Hamilton dating back to 2003… Last year the Pioneers swept the Continentals by scores of 10-2 and 7-4… Junior Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) went 6-for-7 with four RBI, four runs scored and two triples to pace the Pioneers… Sophomore Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) chipped in with five hits and three RBI of her own.

Scouting Oswego: The Lakers (6-10, 3-3 SUNYAC) are coming off two wins, 11-10 and 5-4, over Fredonia on Saturday… Oswego is led by freshman Tori Trovato who has a .444 average and three home runs… UC is 13-4 against Oswego since 2003… Last year the Pioneers won both meetings 9-5 and 8-5… Mallory Ingalls (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) went 6-for-7 with eight RBI, four runs scored, and two home runs… Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) added five hits, three RBI and two homers herself.

Looking Ahead: UC will take on Union College Friday at 4 p.m. before Empire 8 Conference contests against Nazareth and St. John Fisher on Saturday and Sunday.  Both double headers will begin at 1 p.m.


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