ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College softball team picked up a pair of Empire 8 Conference victories Wednesday as the Pioneers swept host Elmira College 4-2 and 9-1 (6 innings).  Sophomore Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) was 6-for-7 with three runs scored and an RBI to lead the way for Utica.
 
Utica, which has won its last four games, will look to carry its momentum into a big conference weekend this weekend.  The Pioneers will host Houghton College on Friday and Alfred University on Saturday.  Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. while Saturdays will begin at 1 p.m.
 
Utica 4, Elmira 2- Game One Final
The Pioneers, who were technically the home team, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a two-RBI double by freshman Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) that scored Madison Judge (Albany, NY/Colonie) and Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South).
 
The Soaring Eagles responded in the second inning with a pair of runs, but the Pioneers regained the lead just half an inning later as Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) scored on an error by Elmira's outfield.  UC tacked on an insurance tally in the sixth inning when Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) drove in Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) to give Utica a 4-2 lead.  The Pioneer defense held strong in the seventh to come away with the game one win.
 
Miller and Akots were each 2-for-3 in game one, while Rice, Evans, Aronin, Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic), and Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) each had one hit.
 
Freshman Gabby Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) picked up her second straight win as she struck out two and did not allow an earned run in seven full innings of work.
 
Utica 9, Elmira 1 (6 Innings)- Game Two Final
This time it was the Soaring Eagles who scored first as they plated a run in the top of the first, but Utica scored two in the first, three in the third, and broke the game open with four runs in the sixth to take the run-rule victory.
 
Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) continued her big day at the plate as she was 4-for-4, including three doubles, and she also finished with three runs scored and one RBI.  Junior Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) was right behind her, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
 
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) also had two RBIs as she finished 1-for-3 at the dish.  Madison Judge (Albany, NY/Colonie) and Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) were each 1-for-3 with an RBI.
 
Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) improved to 3-3 on the year as she fanned a season-high six batters and allowed just six hits in the win.