SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY- The Utica College softball team earned a thrilling split Sunday afternoon as it responded after a 5-2 loss to the Thoroughbreds in game one to beat them 4-3 in game two.
 
Utica 2, Skidmore 5- Game One Final
The Thoroughbreds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and tacked on four more runs in the third to take a commanding 5-0 lead.  Utica was able to score one run each in the third and fifth innings, but it was not enough as the home team held on for the game one win. 
 
Utica was not able to get anything going in the first two innings, but the Pioneers capitalized on a Skidmore error in the third to plate one.  UC added another run in the fifth as Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) drove in Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) to bring the Pioneers within three.
 
Stransky led the way going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.  Utica also had hits from Johndrow, Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School), and Madison Judge (Albany, NY/Colonie). Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and Gabriella Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) combined for four strikeouts in the loss.
 
Utica 4, Skidmore 3- Game Two Final
The Pioneers once again found themselves in an early hole as Skidmore took a 3-0 lead after two innings.  Utica got on the board in the third as Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) singled to drive in Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) UC pulled within one in the fifth as Aronin singled to bring home Mikayla Blumenstock (Poland, NY/Poland).  Then, just two batters later, Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) doubled to center field to bring in Aronin and Evans. 
 
The Pioneer defense shut down the Thoroughbreds in the final two innings as it allowed just one runner on base to hang on for the victory. Aronin finished 2-for-2 at the plate withtwo runs scored and an RBI, while Evans was 1-for-2, and Rice went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. 
 
Freshman Jane Field (Waterford, NY/Catholic Central) struck out six to pick up her first collegiate win. 
 
Utica returns to action Friday as it travels to Houghton College for an Empire 8 Conference double header.  Game one is scheduled to start at 3p.m.