UTICA, NY – The Utica College softball team earned a pair of run-rule victories over visiting Houghton College in Empire 8 Conference action at Greenman Field Saturday. The Pioneers won game one 12-2 in five innings and came back with a 9-1 victory in five innings in game two.  Senior shortstop Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was a perfect 6-for-6 at the plate with five runs scored, three RBIs, four stolen bases and a leadoff home run in game two.  Russell moved into second place on the College's all-time list with 22 career home runs and she also set a new single season program record with 20 stolen bases this season.  Russell also moved into first place on the College's all-time list as she now has 128 career runs scored. She is now second on the all-time hits list with 195 and she is just the fourth player in program-history to record 100 or more career RBIs.   

The Pioneers went 4-0 in conference play at home this weekend while improving to 17-13 overall and 7-3 in the Empire 8. UC is tough at home this season, posting a 9-1 record at the friendly confines of Greenman Field.

Utica's Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) went 2-for-2 at the plate on the day with three RBIs, while Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and one RBI.  Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) added a 3-for-5 day at the plate with one run scored and Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) was 3-for-6 with three runs and one RBI.  Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) had another big day at the dish going 2-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored. 

Utica 12, Houghton 2 (5 inn.) – Game One Final
Utica came out of the gates hot in game one with five runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) drove in a run to get things going, before Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) added an RBI single, scoring Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South).  Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) then doubled off the wall, scoring one, before Beattie added a two-RBI single to close out the five run first inning.

Utica kept the pressure on in the second inning, adding four more runs to take a 9-0 lead.  Stransky posted her second double of the day, scoring Siriano and Russell to kick off the second inning scoring.  Soto then singled to center field, scoring Stransky, and Beattie followed again with a single to left field, scoring Soto. 

Houghton got two quick runs in the top of the third inning, but the Pioneers answered right back with three runs in the fourth to essentially seal the victory. 

Pitcher Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) picked up her sixth win of the season, striking out five and allowing just three hits in 4.0 innings of work.  Freshman catcher Nicole Sciara (Bay Shore, NY/Islip) came into the game and registered her first collegiate hit for UC. 

Russell went 3-for-3 in game one and tallied two RBIs in the fourth inning, while Soto also added three hits in the opener.  Siriano, Stransky and Beattie each chipped in with two hits apiece as the Pioneers accounted for 15 total hits.

Utica 9, Houghton 1 (5 inn.) – Game Two Final
Utica senior pitcher Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) allowed a run in the first inning and then closed the door, striking out six and giving up just two hits as the Pioneers cruised to a 9-1 win in game two.

Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) started game two with her second leadoff home run in as many days to help the Pioneers rebound from an early 1-0 deficit.  The Pioneers applied the pressure in the second inning, scoring five runs to take a 6-1 lead.  UC's first four runs of the second inning came by way of three wild pitches and one passed ball.  Utica added its fifth run of the inning after a Houghton error to take five run advantage over the Highlanders.

The Pioneers added a run in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to earn the run-rule victory. 

Russell was 3-for-3 in game two and scored every time she reached base.  Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) went 2-for-3 with one run scored and an RBI, while Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) added a 2-for-3 effort with a double. 

Utica will hit the road on Wednesday when it travels to Hamilton College to take on the Continentals at 3:30 p.m.