Alfred, NY - The Utica College softball team played its second Empire 8 series of the season on Saturday while coming away with a series split on the road at Alfred University. The Saxons took game one 6-0 while the Pioneers offense woke up in game two for a 9-6 win.
Game 1
Alfred scored four of its six runs in the 2nd inning, three of which coming off a three RBI triple. The Saxons added two more runs in the 6th inning on a pair of unearned runs.
The Pioneers couldn't figure out the pitching of Jessica Wilcox as she held the Utica offense to no runs on two hits en route to a complete game shutout. More impressively, she set down 15 batters via strikeout, including 10 of the first 11 batters she faced, while only walking one Pioneer. Wilcox, the Empire 8 leader in wins, improved to 6-0 after the game.
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) tossed each of the six defensive innings for the Pioneers. She allowed four earned runs on eight hits while walking one Saxon.
Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) and
Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) recorded the only two hits for Utica. McElwain hit a one out single in the 4th innings while Akots also singled to lead off the 7th.
Game 2
The Pioneers turned its woes from game one around in game two as the team scored six runs before the Saxons could step up to the plate. The first three runs that came across were all unearned.
Megan O'Keefe (Albany, NY/Bethlehem Central) reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop while
Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) were able to come across home on the error by the shortstop.
The final three runs of the inning were earned by way of an
Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack) two RBI single to center which was followed by a McElwain RBI single to right, capping off the six run 1st inning.
Makenna Reinold (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent High School) started the game for UC as she faced three batters before Conte came in to relieve her. Alfred was able to push across six runs, four earned, between the 1st and 3rd innings to knot the game at six. However, UC answered back by scoring two runs in the 4th inning to retake the lead at 8-6. Joss scored on an error to center off the bat of Stransky while O'Keefe singled Stransky home two batters later.
Adrian Duvall (Lisbon, NY/Lisbon Central School) added an insurance run in the 7th on a single to center which pushed across
Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) who came in to pinch run. Conte was able to finish off the Saxons in the bottom of the 7th to secure the 9-6 win.
Conte finished the game tossing seven innings for a second consecutive game allowing three earned runs on eight hits. With the win she improves to 3-4 on the season. McElwain completed game two 3-for-5 at the plate while O'Keefe and
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) finished 2-for-4 each.
UC is back in action tomorrow as they host a doubleheader against Houghton College. Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m.
