UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team looks to bounce back Friday as it travels to Elmira College for an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader. The first pitch of game one is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Pioneers had a tough outing at perennial powerhouse, University of Rochester on Wednesday… Utica was shutout both games…
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) was 2-for-3 in game two, while
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and
Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) had hits in game one.
LEADING THE WAY: Sophomore
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) leads the conference with a .530 batting average and a .582 on base percentage… The everyday second baseman has a team-high 35 hits, including eight doubles, and 16 runs scored so far… She is also second on the squad with 12 RBIs.
HELPING OUT: Senior
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) is second on the team with a .328 batting average… Ogren leads the Pioneers with 15 RBIs… She recently tallied her 100
th career hit against Hamilton.
IN THE CIRCLE: Junior
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) has a team-best 1.65 ERA… She ranks second in the conference with 74 strikeouts… Meka has a 6-3 record on the season with one shut out and one save.
SCOUTING ELMIRA: The Soaring Eagles are 4-7 overall and 0-6 in the Empire 8… Elmira is coming off a pair of losses to Alfred University, 10-2 and 12-0, on Sunday… Maddy Johnson has a .361 batting average with five runs scored to lead all starters.
AGAINST THE SOARING EAGLES: The Pioneers are 8-3 against Elmira in the last five years… Last year, Utica downed the Soaring Eagles 9-7 in eight innings and 7-2 to earn a spot in the conference tournament for the third time in four years…
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) had five RBIs on the day, while
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) had four, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to earn the walk off victory in the first game.
LOOKING AHEAD: Utica remains on the road on Tuesday as it travels to Union College… Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
