UTICA, NY - The Utica College softball team saw its four game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday. Visiting Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute erupted for ten runs on twelve hits in game one in a 10-1 win that disrupted Utica's streak. The Pioneers posted a much firmer effort in game two, but could not avoid the sweep as the Engineers eluded a comeback attempt to win game two by a 9-7 score at Greenman Field in Utica.

Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) was the prevalent offensive performer for the Pioneers across the two contests. She combined her two appearances to go 3-for-7 with a run scored and two RBI. Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) completed the doubleheader also at 3-for-7 with a run scored, and knocked in one run in the second game. Freshman Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) clobbered her first collegiate homer in the seventh inning of game one on her way to a two run afternoon, and Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) scored a pair of runs as she continues to hit a team-best .395. 

The losses place Utica at 14-18 on the season, while the Engineers improve to 24-8.

The games were the eleventh and twelfth meetings between Utica and RPI since 2011. Utica continues to lead the series over that span by a seven wins to five margin.

Game One: RPI 10, Utica 1

The Engineers belted out the first ten runs of the game before freshman Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) homered in the seventh as the Pioneers took the loss in game one.

RPI pitcher Erika Holowka was tough to overcome, as she allowed one run on a sprinkling of four hits. Gabby Caccamo took the loss, but managed to strike out a pair of hitters in 4.1 innings of work before being relieved by Jane Field (Waterford, NY/Catholic Central) and Rachel Caswell (Utica, NY/Notre Dame).

Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) each had a hit for the Pioneers.

Game Two: RPI 9, Utica 7

The Pioneers came back with a much stronger effort in game two against the Engineers. Utica had a comeback in the works late as they trimmed a 9-5 deficit down to a pair of runs with a two out rally in the bottom of the seventh. They did so on a Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) double and Sara Stransky's (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) reach on an error that scored Evans. Utica continued their offensive threat to place both tying runs in scoring position with two outs on a stolen base, but it was not to be as a groundout ended the Pioneers' hopes in a 9-7 defeat.

The Pioneers worked seven runs out of nine hits as they found a greater level of offensive success off of RPI starter Taylor Spargo. Jamie Miller (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI to pace the Pioneers. Sadie Evans (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) scored a pair of runs for the Pioneers on two hits and drove in a run. Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) went two-for-four with an RBI and one run scored, and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) scored a run and drove in another.

RPI scored the first three runs of the game, but Utica was keen on erasing much of the early damage as they rallied back with a two-run third inning to trim the game to 3-2. The Pioneers continually did what they had to do to keep the Engineers within striking distance, as they responded to three more RPI runs in the fifth and sixth innings with a three-run sixth to again pull back within a run at 6-5.

Three runs by the Engineers in the top of the seventh threatened to firmly square the game away, but Utica proved to be a tough out with their two-run rally to bring the game all the way down to its final pivotal at-bat before bowing out. 

The Pioneers host another non-conference doubleheader against Hamilton on Thursday. First pitch against the Continentals is slated for 5 p.m.