UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team is set to host cross-town rival, SUNY Poly in its home opener, Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of the double header is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
FLORIDA RECAP: The Pioneers wrapped up their spring training trip to Florida with a 3-9 record… Four of the Pioneers' losses came by just one run… In the final game, Utica took nationally ranked No. 7 Luther College to the final inning before Luther was able to plate two runs in the top of the seventh to come away with its ninth win of the season… UC picked up wins over the University of Dubuque, Farmingdale State, and Dickinson College.
MONROE CEMENTING HER NAME IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Senior
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown), who already holds the College's career wins record (41) and is tied with Pioneer Hall of Famer Bobbi (McMail) Simon for the single-season win record (19), recently broke the program's career strikeout record… Monroe now has 291 strikeouts in her career… This season she leads the team and is tied for second in the conference with 31 strikeouts… Monroe is also fifth in the E8 with a 1.38 ERA… For her efforts last week, she was named the Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week.
CATCH HER IF YOU CAN: Senior
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) has racked up eight stolen bases through the first 12 games… She is currently tied for fourth all-time in stolen bases (34) and needs just two more to move into third place all-time… Russell is 26-for-26 on steal attempts since 2014.
LEADING THE WAY: Senior
Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) leads the team with a .265 batting average… She also has a team-best three doubles and 12 total bases… Siriano trails only classmate
Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) in RBIs… Smith has five RBIs, while Siriano has driven in four runs… Smith is second on the team with a .235 average at the plate, and she boasts a 1.000 fielding percentage… Sophomore
Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) leads the squad with a .375 on base percentage and six walks in 10 games played.
IN THE CIRCLE: Sophomore
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) leads the team and ranks second in the conference with a .40 ERA… She has allowed just one run in 17.2 innings pitched, while striking out nine batters…
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) is second on the squad with a .81 ERA in three appearances.
SCOUTING SUNY POLY: The Wildcats are 4-4 overall after their spring trip to Myrtle Beach, SC… SUNY Poly defeated Penn St.-Harrisburg, Franciscan, Hilbert, and Mt. Aloysius, while falling to Kings, Wilkes, Briar Cliff, and Rio Grande… The Wildcats have three players batting over .300, led by junior, Leah Segerlin, who has a .375 average… Utica is 10-0 against SUNY Poly (formerly, SUNY IT) in the last five years… Last year, UC topped the Wildcats 15-0 and 14-5.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers will hit the road on Friday to take on Skidmore College in a rematch of last week's game in Florida… First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
