UTICA, -- The Utica College softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader to open up Empire 8 Conference play on the road at Houghton College on Friday afternoon. Houghton run-ruled the Pioneers 10-1 in game one and the Highlanders edged the visitors 4-2 in the night cap.
UC senior
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) went 4-for-6 at the dish and accounted for two of the Pioneers three RBIs on the afternoon.
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) went 2-for-6 with an RBI over the course of two games. Freshman
Jane Field (Waterford, NY/Catholic Central) pitched all six inning in game two and struck out five in the narrow loss.
The Pioneers get right back to work with a pair of Empire 8 games on the road Saturday at Alfred University. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Houghton 10, Utica 1 (5 inn.) – Game One Final
The Highlanders jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to come away with the run-rule victory. Utica got on the board in the top of the fourth to make it 6-1 in favor of the home team, but the Highlanders responded in the bottom half of the inning to seal the victory.
Senior
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) was 1-for-2 with an RBI double, while freshman
Emma Rousseau (Litchfield, NH/Campbell) and sophomore
Brigid Johndrow (Bristol, CT/St. Paul Catholic) were also 1-for-2 in game one. Junior
Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) and freshman
Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) each had two hits.
Sophomore
Gabriella Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) shouldered the loss, while
Rachel Caswell (Utica, NY/Notre Dame) allowed just two hits and did not give up a run in relief.
Houghton 4, Utica 2 – Game Two Final
The Pioneers knotted the contest at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning, but the red hot Highlanders had the answer in the bottom of the sixth as they plated two runs and held UC scoreless in the seventh to earn a 4-2 victory.
Houghton open the game two scoring with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning.
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) went 3-for-4 in game two with one RBI. Rice's RBI was a single through the middle that scored
Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) in the fifth inning. Aroinin's double in the fifth inning followed Rice and scored Mikayla Blumentstock to account for UC's final run of the contest.
Hayley Fredericks (Suffern, NY/Suffern),
Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) and Renee Deresh each posted one hit for the Pioneers.
Houghton added a two RBI single to centerfield in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 4-2 lead and eventually the victory.
