UTICA, NY- The Utica College softball team dropped a pair of Empire 8 Conference games Sunday as it fell to visiting Stevens Institute of Technology 2-0 in the first game and 9-0 (5 innings) in game two.
 
Utica 0, Stevens 2- Game One Final
The first game was a pitcher's duel as neither team was able to get much going through the first five innings.  The Ducks finally got on the board in the top of the sixth thanks to RBI singles by Meg Halloran and Katie Tirabassi. 

Stevens' Christine LaRochelle was lights out in the circle as she had a no-hitter going through five innings until Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) broke it up with a single in the bottom of the sixth.  Jacqueline Aronin (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck High School) also had a hit for Utica, but the Ducks' defense held strong to pick up the shutout win.
 
Gabriella Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) struck out two and allowed just six hits in seven innings of work, while LaRochelle had four strikeouts in the win for Stevens.
 
Utica 0, Stevens 9 (5 inn.)- Game Two Final
Once again, the Pioneers struggled to get much going at the plate, and Stevens capitalized with three runs in the third, two in the fourth and four in the fifth to come away with the run-rule victory.
 
Nicole Rice (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) and Madison Judge (Albany, NY/Colonie) had the only hits for Utica.  Alyssa Samborin (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and Jane Field (Waterford, NY/Catholic Central) combined for five strikeouts, while Marissa Cappello fanned seven in the win.
 
The Pioneers (10-16, 3-7 Empire 8) return to action Wednesday as they travel across town to take on local rival, SUNY Poly.  Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.