Utica, NY- The Utica College softball team dropped both games of an Empire 8 Conference double header on Sunday, losing to Nazareth College 7-3 and 4-0.
 
The Pioneers will look to rebound Tuesday as they host local rival, Hamilton College.  Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
Utica 3, Nazareth 7- Game One Final
After three scoreless innings, the Golden Flyers got on the board in the top of the fourth with three runs.  Naz kept up the pressure by plating one in the sixth and adding three runs in the seventh to all but seal the victory.
 
Utica threatened in the bottom of the seventh as senior Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) hit a huge three-run home run over the centerfield fence to cut the deficit to four.  The Pioneers had runners on first and second with two outs, but Nazareth was able to hold on to pick up the win.
 
Ogren, Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) each had one hit for UC.  Stransky and junior Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) combined for four strikeouts in the loss.
 
Utica 0, Nazareth 4- Game Two Final
Errors proved costly in the first inning as the Golden Flyers plated three runs.
 
After the first inning jitters, the Pioneers were able to settle down the rest of the game.  Despite out-hitting Naz in the final six innings, UC was not able to score a run.  The visitors capped off the scoring in the seventh inning with an RBI double off the bat of Marissa Tortora. 
 
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) and Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) were each 2-for-3 in game two, while freshman Kailyn Gravel (Sidney, NY/Sidney) also had a hit.  Shannon Cool (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) had one strikeout and gave up just one earned run in seven full innings of work.