UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team picked up a huge split Sunday afternoon as it topped Empire 8 Conference front runner, Ithaca College 4-3, before falling to the Bombers 6-5 in game two.
 
Utica 4, Ithaca 3- Game One Final
The Pioneers overcame a 3-0 first inning deficit and scored four unanswered runs to pick up the game one win. 
 
Facing a 3-0 hole in the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers rallied to tie it up.  First, junior pitcher Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) singled to right field and a throwing error by the right fielder scored Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place).  Then, Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) hit an RBI single to score Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave).  A clutch two-out single by Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern) scored Meka to even the score.
 
A one, two, three inning set up a big sixth inning for the home team.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Rice hit a double down the left field line to plate the winning run. 
 
The Pioneers did not allow a base runner in the seventh inning to pick up the big E8 victory.
 
Rice and Fredericks each finished 2-for-4 in game one, while Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) and Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) also had hits. 
 
Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) combined for five strikeouts, with Meka picking up the win as she did not allow a run in six innings of work.
 
Utica 5, Ithaca 6- Game Two Final
UC picked up where it left off as it plated four runs to take a 4-1 lead after the first inning. 
 
Ithaca scored two runs in the third inning to come within one, but the Pioneers added an insurance tally in the fourth to go up 5-3.  The Bombers used three runs in the final three innings to come away with their league-leading 12^th win in conference play.
 
Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) led the Pioneers, going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.  Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern), and Kimberly Beattie (Levitton, NY/Division Ave) each had one hit, while Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) was 1-for-2 with a team-best two RBIs. 
 
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) struck out one in the loss.  With the loss, the Pioneers were eliminated from playoff contention. 
 
Utica returns to action Monday as it hosts Skidmore College in non-conference action.  Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.