Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Utica, NY (April 24, 2014) – The Utica College softball team outscored visiting Houghton College 18-0 over the course of two games as the Pioneers swept the Highlanders in two run-rule shortened contests on Thursday afternoon at Greenman Field.  The Pioneers won game one 10-0 in five innings, before topping the visitors 8-0 in five innings in game two. 

Utica senior second baseman Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two doubles over the course of the two games.  Senior third baseman Meghan Matan (Latham, NY/Shaker) went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI, while sophomore shortstop Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) added two hits, three RBIs, two runs scored and her team-best fifth home run of the season. Sophomore Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) also registered her second career home run (first of the year).

The Pioneers improved to 9-1 at home this season and they are now 19-8 overall. Utica is currently ranked fifth in the latest release of the NCAA North East regional rankings.  Houghton is now 1-28 overall.

Matan currently leads UC with a .500 batting average and she has a team-high 43 hits this season. Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) raised her season average to .348 on the year and she has scored a team-best 30 runs. 

Utica 10, Houghton 0 (5 innings) – Game One Final
Utica sophomore pitcher Erica Colucci (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) pitched all five innings of shutout ball and struck out seven to guide the Pioneers to a convincing 10-0 win in game one. Colucci improved her overall record to 7-3 on the year. 

Eight of the Pioneers nine hitters tallied at least one hit in game one and they were led by a 2-for-3 effort from the bat of Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene). 

The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) hit a two-RBI single, scoring Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) and Monroe.  In the bottom of the second, Traglia singled to right field, scoring Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) and freshman Shannon Fillmore (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) to give UC a 4-0 lead. 

Freshman catcher Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) got the third inning started with an RBI single and Ellis closed out the four-run stanza with a three run home run to give UC an 8-0 lead after three.

UC tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to secure the victory.

Utica 8, Houghton 0 (5 inn.) – Game Two Final
Utica posted 11 hits and sophomore hurler Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) threw a one-hitter, while striking out eight batters, as the Pioneers cruised to an 8-0 run-rule victory in game two. Chelsea Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) went 3-for-3 with three runs scored in game two, while Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) hit a two-run homer to help lift the Pioneers.

Seven different Pioneers had at least one hit and five players had at least one RBI in the victory.

Traglia and Matan each posted RBI's in the bottom of the first inning for UC and Russell's second inning home run gave the home squad a commanding 5-0 lead.  The Pioneers tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning, including an RBI double from Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), as Utica cruised to the eight run victory.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday at home when they host Empire 8 Conference foe Alfred University.  The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.