ITHACA, NY- The Utica College softball team lost a heartbreaker, 3-2, to defending conference champion, Alfred University Friday afternoon in the elimination game of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament.  The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 22-18 overall record.  It marks the sixth straight year Utica has finished above .500.
 
Senior Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was 3-for-4 at the plate with one run scored to pace the Pioneers.  Following a lengthy rain delay in the bottom of the first inning, Utica was able to score two runs in the top of the third.  With two outs and runners on first and second, senior Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) roped a double to right field, scoring Russell and Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South). 
 
The Saxons responded in the bottom of the fourth inning as Sophia Chiavatti hit a two-RBI single to even the score.  Alfred took the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Chiavatti singled up the middle to drive in the winning run. 
 
Utica threatened in the top of the seventh as it had the bases loaded with two outs, however Alfred pitcher, Shannon Schaefer was able to pick up a strikeout for the final out.
 
Utica will bid farewell to one of its most successful classes in program history.  Over the last four years, the class of 2016 made three Empire 8 Conference tournament appearances and helped clinch the program's first ever NCAA Tournament berth.  Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) will graduate as the career record holder in runs scored (142), stolen bases (52), total bases (339), and triples (nine).  She is also second all-time in career batting average (.425) and home runs (24) and she set a new single-season record with 26 stolen bases. Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) owns the career records for wins (51), strikeouts (378), and shutouts (10).  She also had a career-high 118 strikeouts this season.  Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) wraps up her two years at UC with a .355 batting average, while Cassie Smith (Delmar, NY/Bethlehem Central) finishes her career with a .344 overall average.  Taylor Ellis (Kannapolis, NC/Greene), who battled injuries for most of her career, will also wrap up her career as a Pioneer.