KISSIMMEE, FL- The Utica College softball team split on its second day of action at the Sunkissed games in Kissimmee, Florida on Monday. The Pioneers earned a thrilling 12-11 come-from-behind win over New York University in game one, before dropping an 11-9 decision to St. Norbert College in game two.
Utica 12, NYU 11- Game One Final
The Pioneers jumped off to a quick start as they plated three runs in the top of the first off back-to-back RBIs from
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and
Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern). The Violets responded with seven runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a four-run lead.
The score remained the same until the fourth inning when Utica exploded for six runs, thanks in part to a grand slam by Stransky to regain control of the lead. First, freshman
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) hit a sac fly that scored Jaqcueline Aronin. Then, junior
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) drove in
Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) to cut the deficit to two, before Stransky's bomb to left center.
The Violets tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but Utica kept up the pressure thanks to RBIs by Stransky and
Madison Judge (Albany, NY/Colonie), and a double steal by
Sabrina Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) and Judge that scored one.
NYU tacked on one run each in the sixth and seventh, but it was not enough as the Pioneers held on for their first victory of the season.
Rice was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while
Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Stransky finished 2-for-4 with six RBIs on the day.
Freshman
Gabby Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) picked up her first collegiate win in 3.1 innings of work, while
Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and
Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) combined for three strikeouts in 3.2 innings in the circle.
Utica 9, St. Norbert 11- Game Two Final
Right off the bat, the teams traded runs with each scoring once in the first inning. Utica carried a 3-1 lead into the third before the Knights responded with five runs of their own. After more back-and-forth action, St. Norbert pulled ahead 11-8 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Utica was able to plate one run, but the St. Norbert defense held strong to pick up its first win of the season.
Once again, it was
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) leading the Utica offense as she was 3-for-4, including two doubles and a home run, as well as two RBIs and two runs scored. Sophomore
Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) was right behind her going 3-for-5 with an RBI and one run scored. Evans also had two extra base hits as she collected a double and a triple.
Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern) was 2-for-3 and
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South),
Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place),
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School),
Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), and
Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) also had hits.
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place),
Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), and
Gabby Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) each saw action in the circle, combining for two strike outs and just five earned runs allowed.
The Pioneers (1-3) return to the diamond Tuesday against Wisconsin Lutheran (9 a.m.) and Plattsburgh State (11:15 a.m.)
