UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team looks to keep its momentum going Wednesday as it hosts Union College for a non-conference double header. Game one is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: Utica cruised to a pair of victories over host Skidmore College, 9-3 and 11-0, on Friday… Senior
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was 5-for-9 at the plate, including one home run, and she also added three RBI and two steals on the day… Freshman
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) also had a strong showing as she was 4-for-8 with a team-high six RBI, while junior
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) went 4-for-7 with two doubles and four RBI… Sophomore
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) fanned two in 6.1 innings of work to get her second win of the season, while
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) had three strikeouts and gave up just four hits as she improved to 3-4.
RUSSELL EARNS EMPIRE 8 WEEKLY ACCOLADES: Senior
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was named the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week, Monday, for her standout performance last week… Russell batted .500 to help Utica to four straight wins… She was 8-for-16 at the plate with two home runs, six RBIs, and two stolen bases... On the season, she has a .291 batting average and leads the team with 10 runs, 16 hits, 25 total bases, and ten steals… She now has 20 career home runs and needs just one more to move into a tie for second place all-time... She also moved into third on the College's career steals list with 36 stolen bases.
FRESHMAN STEPPING UP: First year player
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) has adjusted well to the college game… The everyday second baseman currently leads the team in batting average (.300), doubles (five), and RBI (11)… Her 15 hits are second only to Russell, and she has also added three steals… She has compiled seven hits and eight RBI in the last four games.
IN THE CIRCLE: Sophomore
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) currently ranks second in the Empire 8 with a 1.17 ERA… She has struck out 11 and allowed just four earned runs in 24 innings of work… Senior
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) is tied for third in the conference with a 1.21 ERA… She is also second in the E8 with 41 strikeouts… Sophomore
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) has compiled a .70 ERA in 10 innings of work with one save, while freshman
Shannon Cool (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) has fanned seven batters and picked up one save.
HELPING OUT: Senior
Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) is second on the squad with a .295 batting average… She has scored nine runs and collected six steals while starting all 16 games this season… Junior
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) is batting .267 with three doubles and 15 total bases.
SCOUTING UNION: The Dutchwomen are 3-7 after their spring trip to Florida… Three players are batting over .300, led by senior Joanna Chalifoux, who has a .423 batting average as well as a team-high .545 on base percentage… The Pioneers are 15-3 against Union since 2003… The teams last met on April 2, 2014 in Utica… The Pioneers came away with a pair of wins, 14-6 and 12-7.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Pioneers open up Empire 8 Conference play on the road this weekend as they travel to St. John Fisher College on Saturday and Nazareth College on Sunday… Game times are scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
