UTICA , NY — The Utica College softball team returns home Saturday for a doubleheader against Alfred University.  Game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Current Record: With a two game winning streak the Pioneers are currently 10-14 overall and 3-2 in Empire 8 match-ups. As of right now they have the fourth spot in the conference standings with a two game lead over fifth place Elmira.
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers picked up a pair of Empire 8 Conference victories Wednesday as they swept host Elmira College 4-2 and 9-1 (6 innings)… Sophomore Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) was 6-for-7 on the day with three runs scored and an RBI to lead the way for the Pioneers… Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) was 4-for-7 and Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) was 3-for-6 on the day… 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 in game one… Sophomore Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) fanned a season-high six batters and allowed just six hits in the game two victory.
  
Three Pioneers Amongst League Leaders: Rice and Miller's hitting display this season has placed them amongst the E8 leaders this season... Rice currently sits in fourth in the conference with a batting average of .443… She has 35 hits (first in E8) on 79 at-bats this season, bringing home 12 runs and scoring 20 of her own... With 38 total bases this year she has an on-base percentage of 0.494 (fourth in E8)… Miller's batting average of .431 places her sixth in the conference… She has scored 16 runs and has 32 total bases this season for an on base percentage of .515 (third in E8)… Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) is currently leading the conference in home runs (six) and RBIs (27).
 
Scouting Alfred: The Saxons are 16-10 on the year and 4-2 in conference play. They have scored five or more runs in 12 games this season... Sophomore Jillian Murray and senior Haley Powers lead the way Saxons... Murray has a team-high .447 batting average (third in E8) while Haley holds a batting average of .400. Alfred leads the E8 with a team ERA of 2.38.
 
Pioneers and Saxons 2017: Last season the Saxons swept the Pioneers with a 14-6 win in game one and 6-2 win in game two. Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) capped her day with three hits, three runs scored and one RBI and Dominique Soto (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) hit a solo home run in game two. 
 
Looking Ahead: The Pioneers will host Houghton College on Monday… Game times are set for 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.