UTICA, NY - The Utica College softball team has quite the busy week ahead of it. A stretch of eight games in a five day window kicks off on Wednesday. They will host a non-conference doubleheader against SUNY Canton on Wednesday, and follow it with a non-league twinbill against Skidmore on Thursday. Start time for both doubleheaders is set for 3 p.m. 

Follow Along: Live stats will be available for all home games at portal.stretchinternet.com/utica. 

Last Time Out: The Pioneers lost both games of a doubleheader in walk-off fashion at Sage on Saturday. The Gators won in seven innings in game one by a 6-5 score, and then took game two by a 10-9 score in a ten inning thriller. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was outstanding for the Pioneers with a 6-of-9 effort at the plate. Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) hit two doubles and drove in three runs. The Pioneers had 25 hits over the two games.

Where It's At: Utica is 3-3 to start the season, and 0-2 in the Empire 8 after their two one-run losses to Sage. All of the team's losses have been by two runs or less.

At Home: Utica is currently 1-1 at home after splitting a doubleheader against SUNY Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, March 27th.

Like A Joss: Junior infielder Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) has returned from a long break from competition with a sizzling start to the 2021 season. She is third in the conference with a .591 batting average, and second in the conference in on-base percentage. Her thirteen hits lead the Empire 8, and she is second in the conference in RBI behind teammate Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland). Joss hit .278 during the 2019 season.

Being Extra: Utica has three players with four doubles apiece in their first six games. Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland), and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) all have a quartet of two-baggers, and that is tied for the Empire 8 conference lead. Paul also leads the Empire 8 conference with two home runs.

We'll Take Them All, Thanks: Utica is a perfect 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts so far this season. Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) and Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) have each stolen two bases, while Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz), Megan O'Keefe (Albany, NY/Bethlehem Central), and Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack) have each stolen one.

Good Eye Akots: Graduate student Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) has struck out just once in her first 20 at-bats of the season.

Starting It Off: Seven players have started all six games for the Pioneers this season in some capacity. That group includes Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School), Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland), Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), Megan O'Keefe (Albany, NY/Bethlehem Central), Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz), and Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School).

Coming Off A High Note: The 16 hits the Pioneers strung together against Sage marked a season-high for the team.

In The Circle: The Pioneers have looked to a trio of arms early in the season on the pitching front. Senior Gabriella Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) has again been Utica's top arm with a 2-0 record to start the season. She has a 2-0 record across three starts and a team-best ERA of 3.34. She has struck out nine batters this season. Local product Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) has also settled in as a starter and has a team-best fifteen strikeouts. She has made three starts. Finally, Makenna Reinold (Holland Patent, NY/Holland Patent High School) has struck out a pair of hitters in 4.2 innings of work. They comprise one of just three staffs in the conference that has not given up a home run.

Welcome Home: Wednesday's doubleheader will also incorporate a unique family element to it. The Roos have junior pitcher Alaina Beane on their roster. A native of Munnsville, she is the daughter of Utica College pitching coach Kari Beane. This will be the first time the two have been in opposite dugouts at the collegiate level.

About The Roos: SUNY Canton is 1-2 and were recently swept by Clarkson on Tuesday, March 30th in a pair of run-rule defeats. In their season-opening win against St. Lawrence, Jordan Knapp was 5-for-5 in an 11-3 rout. She is hitting a team-best .600. Kayla Chavarri is 1-1 in two pitching starts. They were 6-4 in 2020 before the season was frozen.

About Skidmore: The Thoroughbreds are 2-2 after getting swept in a doubleheader by Union, and sweeping St. Lawrence. Skidmore topped the Saints on Saturday by scores of 6-4 and 8-0. Katie Anderson leads the team with a .615 batting average.

What's Next: The Pioneers will visit Alfred on Saturday, and host Houghton on Sunday in a pair of conference doubleheaders.