Clermont, FL (3/20/15)- The Utica College softball team went 1-1 on the final day at the DOT Richardson Spring Games on Friday.  UC defeated Worcester State University 9-0 in five innings, before falling to two-time defending National Champion Tufts University 8-2.
 
The Pioneers wrap up their spring training trip with a 4-6 record. UC will open up play at Greenman field on Wednesday as it hosts Skidmore College.  The double-headed is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.
 
Utica 9, Worcester State 0- Game One Final (5 innings)
Utica jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back as the Pioneers picked up their most lopsided victory of the season.  Junior Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) got the ball rolling with a lead-off home run in the top of the first to put UC up 1-0.  The Pioneers added three runs in the third behind RBI singles from Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) and Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central). 
 
Utica added four more runs in the fourth, led by another home run by Russell.  Fitzgerald added an RBI double, while Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) drove in two runs.  Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) capped off the scoring in the fifth with an RBI single that scored Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk). 
 
Russell and Smith each went 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.  Fitzgerald and freshman Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake) went 2-for-3, while Siriano (2-for-4), Ogren, and Traglia also had hits.  Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) had three strikeouts in four innings of work to collect her second win of the season. 
 
Utica 2, #1 Tufts 8- Game Two Final
The nationally ranked No. 1 Tufts Jumbos proved to be too much for Utica in game two as they topped the Pioneers 8-2.  UC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Tufts responded by scoring eight unanswered runs to earn the victory.
 
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) led UC with two hits and added a stolen base as she extended her season-opening hit streak to eight games.  Morgan Ellis (Kannapolis, NC/Greene Central), Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central), and Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) also had hits for UC. 
 
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) gave up eight hits in 4.1 innings of work, while Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) allowed just one hit in nearly three innings in the circle. 


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