KISSIMMEE, FL- The Utica College softball team picked up a pair of wins on day three of the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL as it defeated Mount Saint Mary 6-5 and Farmingdale State 6-2.
The Pioneers have now won three straight. They have a day off before returning to action Thursday against Loras College (9 a.m.) and Wisconsin Lutheran (1:30 p.m.)
Utica 6, Mount Saint Mary 5- Game One Final
Utica overcame a 5-1 deficit after four innings exploded for four runs in the top of the sixth to come away with its second straight win.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, freshman
Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) blasted a pinch-hit double that scored
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and
Jamie Miller (Boonville, New York/Adirondack). The next batter up,
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, Connecticut/Naugatuck High School), crushed a triple to bring in Akots and
Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern).
Utica allowed just one hit in the bottom of the sixth, before
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) came in to close out the game in the seventh.
Fredericks was 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while
Sadie Evans (Clifton Park New York/Shenendehowa) was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Aronin was 2-for-3 with both of her hits collecting extra bases. Stransky and
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) each had one hit. Sophomore
Shannon Cool (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) had two strike outs in five innings of work as she picked up her first win of the season, while Meka fanned one in one inning to grab the save.
Utica 6, Farmingdale State 2- Game Two Final
The Pioneers jumped out to a quick start as they plated four runs in the first inning. Senior
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) got things started with her bases-loaded single that drove in
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) and
Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich). The next batter,
Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern) brought in
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), while
Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) doubled down the left field line to send in Ogren.
A fielding mishap got the Rams on the board with two runs in the fourth, but Utica responded with one run in both the fifth and sixth innings. Ogren picked up her third RBI of the game with a single to center field. Freshman
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, Connecticut/Naugatuck High School) capped off the scoring with an inside the park home run, marking her first career home run.
Ogren was 3-for-3 at the plate, while Whitehouse, Stransky, Rice, Akots, Soto, and Aronin were each 1-for-3. B
Junior
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) gave up just three hits and no earned runs as she pitched all seven innings for the second straight game. She also totaled 10 strikeouts in the win.
