UTICA, NY - The Utica College softball team split a doubleheader in its first home date of the 2021 season. Taking to the home diamond at Greenman Field in a game for the first time in almost two years, the Pioneers lost a 14-12 offensive shootout in game one, before responding with a decisive 9-1 win over six innings in game two as they halved a Saturday afternoon twinbill against SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

Utica is now 3-1, while the Wildcats are 1-1.

Game 1: SUNY Poly 14, Utica 12

The bats certainly were not silent in the first game of the afternoon's double feature as the two sides combined for an astounding 26 runs on 25 hits in a wild contest.

Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) was 3-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI, a double, and a homer to lead UC. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), and Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) each scored two runs.

In the circle, Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) took the loss for Utica. Over 4.1 innings of work, she allowed ten runs and struck out three. Local product Caitlin Reilly secured the win for the Wildcats with a complete game in which she struck out ten.

SUNY Poly scored the first six runs of the contest over the first two innings, highlighted by a three run triple by infielder Ariel Smith in the second. Smith went on to have five RBIs in the game.

The Pioneers would have an almost immediate answer, as they secured six runs of their own between the second and third innings to tie the game. Alert and fleet footed baserunning helped Utica close the gap as the Pioneers scored four runs directly off of two SUNY Poly errors, Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) worked a bases loaded walk, and Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) darted home on a dropped third strike to tie the game at six.

The Wildcats responded to the Utica run with another torrent of runs, as they churned out seven straight for a 14-6 lead by the middle of the sixth inning. A two-run double by Smith in the fifth inning was the most notable scoring play for the Wildcats over that span.

Utica didn't go quietly over the final two innings. The Pioneers staved off the run rule with a solid sixth inning in which they plated four runs. Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) singled home Finch, and Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) had a two run double to drive in McElwain and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls). Paul later scored on a wild pitch to finish slashing the deficit down to 14-10 heading into the seventh.

Utica took one big step further in its last round of at-bats to give themselves a chance late, and as Paul delivered on two huge scoring plays in the sixth, she stood taller in the seventh. With Joss on base, Paul delivered a monstrous two-run home run with two outs to cut the hole down to 14-12, but the Pioneers couldn't squeeze another pair of runs out of their final out as they fell to the Wildcats in an epic game one.

Game 2: Utica 9, SUNY Poly 1 (Six Innings)

After the first game's roller coaster ride, the Pioneers left very little drama to be had in game two as they scored the first seven runs in a wire-to-wire victory that was completed after six innings.

The Pioneers rapped out nine runs on twelve hits to round out a strong offensive afternoon in the win. Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) and Megan O'Keefe (Albany, NY/Bethlehem Central) each finished 2-for-3 with two RBI. Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) and Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) each scored two runs.

Gabby Caccamo was tremendous in the circle for her second win of the season. She went the distance and allowed just one run on eight hits, while also fanning eight hitters. Jordan Penoyer took the loss for SUNY Poly.

After a scoreless first, a three-run second inning opened the floodgates for Utica. Catlin scored on a double by O'Keefe to start up the scoring, Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) doubled in O'Keefe, and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) drove in Phelps to put the Pioneers in front.

Catlin scored again on a single by O'Keefe in the third. A three-run fourth inning brought even more life to the dugout as Paul, Finch, and Stransky all crossed the dish for a 7-0 score. Smith singled to break up the shutout for Poly in the fifth. Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack) scored on an error in the bottom of the inning, and Utica finished off the run-rule win in the sixth as Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) singled home Finch to end the game.

The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, April 3rd as they visit Sage for an Empire 8 doubleheader.