UTICA, NY - The Utica College softball team swept an important conference doubleheader, and celebrated senior day in style while doing it. The Pioneer bats left little doubt as they combined to hammer out 24 runs on 26 hits over both games as they topped Elmira with a pair of run-rule wins by scores of 9-1 and 15-7 at Greenman Field.

The Pioneers improve to 11-7 overall, and 6-6 in conference play, while the Soaring Eagles drop to 4-12.

Senior Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) finished the day 4-of-7 with three runs scored. She had a double and a triple along with two RBI. Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) scored a total of five runs, Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) had five hits and four runs scored, Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) had three runs and four RBI.

Before the doubleheader, Akots, Gabby Caccamo, and Stransky were honored for their contributions to the UC Softball Program. 

The Pioneers return to action tomorrow with two more critically important E8 games at Keuka. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Game 1: Utica 15, Elmira 7 (6 Innings)

The Pioneers scored the last eight runs of the game, with five runs in the fourth, one run in the fifth, and three in the sixth as they invoked the eight-run rule with a 15-7 win.

Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, while also doubling twice. Stransky was 3-for-4, and Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) scored four runs. The Pioneers had five stolen bases during the game. Three different players scored two runs for Elmira. 

In the circle, Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) got the win for UC. She allowed seven runs on seven hits and fanned six hitters. Jillian Cortez took the loss for the Soaring Eagles. 

A 3-3 first inning set the table for what would be an offensively rampant matchup. Elmira took a 4-3 lead in the third on a double by Cortez, but the Pioneers countered back with a three run bottom of the inning as Phelps, Joss, and Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) all came in to score. The Pioneers led 6-4 at that point, and never trailed again as they pulled away to the run-rule win. 

Game 2: Utica 9, Elmira 1 (5 Innings)

The Pioneers rolled out to a 6-0 lead through three innings, and senior Gabby Caccamo shined in just her second home start of the season with a two-hitter in a five inning game. 

Caccamo allowed just one run and struck out four. She remains undefeated at 3-0 this season. Ally Barr took the loss for Elmira. 

Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) was the team's big ticket offensive performer. The senior got the start behind the plate, and was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Her hits were a double and a triple. Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack), Megan O'Keefe (Albany, NY/Bethlehem Central), and Stransky were all 2-for-3. O'Keefe and Phelps each scored two runs. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) worked a pair of walks. Utica out-hit the Soaring Eagles 11-2. 

A three-run fourth inning extended the lead from 6-1 to 9-1, and sealed the deal for UC. O'Keefe singled in Stransky, Akots drove in Catlin with a double, and Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack) grounded in Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz). Utica set the Soaring Eagles down quietly in the fifth to finish the job.