UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team returns to action Tuesday as it travels to Union College for a non-conference doubleheader.  Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: UC is coming off a split to Elmira College in Empire 8 Conference action on Friday…   The Pioneers shutout the Soaring Eagles 5-0 in game one, before dropping a 6-5 heartbreaker in game two… Junior Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) was 4-for-7 on the day to lead the Pioneers… Sophomore Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) went 4-for-8 at the dish and recorded two steals… Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) was 2-for-3 in game one, while freshman Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) was 2-for-3 in game two with two runs scored... Junior Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) struck out six and allowed just three hits in the complete-game shutout.
 
Rice Leading the Way: Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) is still doing a great job at the plate this season.  She leads the Empire 8 Conference with a .520 batting average and she is second in on base percentage (.575)...   Rice has also recorded 15 RBIs and a team-high 39 hits, including eight doubles.
 
Helping Out: Freshman Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) ranks second on the squad with a .368 batting average… Senior Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) has gone .324 at the plate with a team-best 16 RBIs… Junior Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) ranks fourth on the squad with a .299 average… Whitehouse has 20 hits, six of which were for extra bases.
 
Ace in the Circle: After striking out a combined eight batters in both games against Elmira, junior pitcher Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) now has a team-best ERA of 1.56, which also ranks fourth in the E8...   She is second in the conference with 82 strikeouts so far.
 
Scouting Union: The Union College Dutchwomen have a 4-14 overall record…  The Dutchwomen were swept by the Clarkson University Knights (Game 1: 6-1; Game 2: 8-4) in a home doubleheader on Saturday…  Three players are batting over .300 on the season, led by sophomore Kara Brown, who has a .377 and 11 RBIs. 
 
Against the Dutchwomen: Utica is 17-3 against Union since 2003… Last year, the Pioneers earned a pair of one-run victories at home, winning 2-1 and 3-2… Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) was 3-for-5 on the day with two steals, while Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) had seven strikeouts in game one for the complete-game victory. 
 
Looking Ahead: UC returns to action Saturday as it hosts conference foe, Stevens Institute of Technology… Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.