Utica, NY (4/18/15)- The Utica College softball team snapped a six-game skid as it combined for 18 runs over the course of two wins against visiting Nazareth College in Empire 8 Conference action Saturday afternoon.  UC topped the Golden Flyers 3-0 in the first game, before cruising to a 15-1 run-rule victory in game two.
 
With the win, the Pioneers improve to 12-12 overall and move up the conference standings with a 4-4 mark in league play.  Utica turns right around Sunday with a doubleheader against St. John Fisher College.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Greenman Field. 
 
Utica 3, Nazareth 0- Game One Final
Freshman Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) allowed just two hits in the complete game shutout as she moves her record to 3-3 on the season.  After three scoreless innings, the Pioneers broke the deadlock as senior Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) singled to left field to score Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place).  Utica added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth as Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) hit a stand up double to right field to score freshmen Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and Madison Williams (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent). 
 
Stransky and Traglia were each 2-for-3, while Russell, Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), and Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) each had one hit.  Meka struck out three and allowed just three base runners in the game to lead Utica.  She received some help in the top of the seventh as Siriano made a highlight real catch while flipping over the left field wall to rob a two-run homerun. 
 
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) and Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) each had one stolen base.  Traglia now needs just one more steal to tie Laura Meagher '06 for the most all-time at UC. Nazareth's Nicole Bayona had one strikeout and gave up seven hits in the loss.
 
Utica 15, Nazareth 1 (5 Inn.)- Game Two Final
Nine different players recorded at least one hit as the Pioneers picked up their 12^th win of the season.  Utica jumped out to a quick start as it plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning and extended the lead to a commanding 8-0 ledger before the Golden Flyers were able to get one run across in the top of the fourth.  Utica responded in the bottom of the inning by scoring seven runs on eight hits to put the game out of reach. 
 
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville), Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich), and Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) were each 3-for-3, with Whitehouse driving in a game-high three runs.  Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake) was 2-for-2 with two RBI, while Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Madison Williams (Prospect, NY/Holland Patent), Samantha Sanky (Merrick, NY/Calhoun), and Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) each had one hit.  Russell also added a team-high two stolen bases, while Soto had one steal.
 
Junior Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) fanned eight and allowed just three hits as she won her sixth game of the year.  She now has 37 career wins, which ties Erin Hinrichs '02 for first on the College's all-time list.