Alfred, NY (4/11/15)- The Utica College softball team dropped a pair off one-run games in extra innings Saturday afternoon to host Alfred University in Empire 8 Conference action.  UC fell 6-5 and 8-7, both in eight innings.
 
The Pioneers drop to 10-8 on the year and 2-2 in Empire 8 Conference play.  Utica has now lost three straight one-run games to the Saxons, dating back to the Empire 8 Tournament semifinal, when Alfred scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn a walk-off victory.  Utica returns to action Tuesday as it hosts defending Empire 8 Champion, Ithaca College.  First pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
 
Junior Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) was Utica's top performer at the plate as she was 4-for-8 on the day with one run scored.  Senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) hit her second home run of the season to break the College's career home run record, previously held by Abby Drew '09.  Fitzgerald now has 22 home runs in 105 career games at UC. 
 
Utica 5, Alfred 6 (8 Innings)- Game One Final
After three innings of scoreless action, the Pioneers jumped out to a 5-1 lead after five innings of play, however the Saxons responded by scoring five runs of their own over the next three innings to earn their first E8 victory of the season. 
 
Sophomore Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) was 2-for-3, while Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) and Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) were each 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.  Fitzgerald, Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene), Morgan Ellis (Kannapolis, NC/Greene Central), and Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) also had hits for the Pioneers.
 
Junior Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) struck out four in six innings of work, while freshman Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings in relief. 
 
Utica 7, Alfred 8 (8 Innings)- Game Two Final
This time it was the Pioneers who came from behind as they scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to force extra frames.  Taylor Ellis (Willet, NY/Greene) led the way going 3-for-4 at the dish while Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central), Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), and Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) each had one hit.  Fitzgerald and Wickwire each blasted two-run homers in the top of the seventh inning to extend the game.  Wickwire's shot was her first collegiate home run.
 
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) led the way for the Pioneers in the circle as she had seven strikeouts and allowed just five hits in 3.2 innings of work, while Wickwire and Meka combined for two strikeouts.
 
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) has now tallied at least one hit in each of her 16 games this season.  Her hitting streak spans 19 games and stretches back to May 2 of last season. 
 
The Saxons, who were receiving votes in the latest NFCA national poll, improved to 16-2 on the year and 2-0 in the E8.  Alfred hosts Ithaca College on Sunday for a conference double-header.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.