Utica, NY (4/14/15)- The Utica College softball team looks to bounce back this week as it takes on Ithaca College and the University of Rochester. The Pioneers host Ithaca on Tuesday, before traveling to Rochester on Wednesday. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. both days.
 
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers lost a pair of one-run extra inning games at Alfred University on Saturday…  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… Freshman Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda) blasted her first collegiate home run and sophomore Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) was 3-for-4 in game one.
 
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Utica is 36-6 on its home field since 2013… UC has outscored it opponents 111-43 at Greenman since the beginning of last season. 
 
IT'S OUTTA HERE: With one home run on Saturday, senior Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) broke the College's career home run record, previously held by Abby Drew '09… Fitzgerald now has 22 home runs in 105 career games for the Pioneers… Fitzgerald is also second all-time in doubles (34) and RBI (112)… She needs three more doubles to tie 2013 graduate Bridgette Plummer for first on the list… She is also just seven RBI away from passing Drew's RBI record.
 
ON A STREAK: Junior Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) has opened the year on a 16-game hitting streak… She has now tallied at least one hit in the last 19 games, dating back to May 2, last season… Russell leads the team and ranks second in the conference in batting average (.529), slugging percentage (.902), and runs scored (22)… She also leads the E8 in on base percentage (.593) and has a team-best 46 total bases.
 
CLOSING IN: Junior Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) is one win away from tying the College's career win record (37), which is currently held by Erin Hinrichs '02… Monroe, who shares the College's single season win record (19), has collected 36 wins in 67 appearances for the Pioneers… Senior Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) needs two stolen bases to tie Laura Meagher '06 for the most all-time… She currently has 39 stolen bases in her career and is 5-for-7 on steals this season.
 
SCOUTING ITHACA: The defending Empire 8 Champion Ithaca Bombers are 8-10 overall and 4-2 in E8 play… Ithaca is coming off a pair of losses at the hands of Alfred University on Sunday, falling 11-3 and 10-5… Ithaca has three players batting over .400, led by Kelly Robichaud and Emily Bloom, who each have a .455 average… Robichaud has also added a team-best four home runs and 19 RBI.
 
AGAINST THE BOMBERS: Utica is 3-2 against Ithaca in the last two seasons… Last year, the teams split their regular season series, before the Bombers earned a 3-0 victory in the opening game of the Empire 8 Tournament…  Utica swept Ithaca at home on April 20, 2013… Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) is 10-for-17 in her career versus the Bombers, while classmate Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) is 9-for-15.

SCOUTING U of R: The nationally ranked No. 20 Yellow Jackets are 14-7 overall (4-4 Liberty League) and they are coming off sweeps over RPI and Union College last weekend… Rochester is led by Brittany Grage, who has a team-high .448 batting average, eight home runs, and 26 RBI… Utica is 1-3 against U of R in the last three years, with two games going to extra innings. 
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers return home this weekend to take on Nazareth (Saturday) and St. John Fisher (Sunday)… First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.