ELMIRA, NY- The Utica College softball team locked up the No. 5 seed in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament as it split with host Elmira College Sunday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles took game one 6-3, before Utica stormed back with a 13-0 run-rule victory in game two.
Junior
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) led Utica going 4-for-6 with four RBIs over the two games.
Utica 3, Elmira 6- Game One Final
Utica got out to a quick start as Joss hit an RBI single up the middle to score
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Elmira responded however in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a double steal play that plated one.
The score remained the same until the fifth inning when the Soaring Eagles took advantage of a defensive miscue by the Pioneers to go up 2-1. UC responded in the top of the sixth as a sacrifice fly by Joss scored
Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) to tie the game, but it was short-lived as Elmira exploded for four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Down to the last out with a runner on third, freshman
Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) hit an RBI single to drive in
Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) to make it 6-3 in favor of the home team. It was too little, too late however as the Soaring Eagles were able to get the final out.
Phelps was 2-for-3 to lead Utica in game one. Meanwhile Catlin and Joss were each 1-for-2 and McElwain and Finch were each 1-for-3. Sophomore
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) had two strikeouts and allowed six hits in the loss.
Utica 13, Elmira 0 (5 Inn.)- Game Two Final
Once again the Pioneers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, this time thanks to a two-run home run by
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) in just the third at bat of the game. Utica looked poised to add to its lead as it had the bases loaded and only one out, but the Elmira defense was able to get out of the jam.
Utica broke the game open with eight runs in the fourth and tacked on three more in the fifth to ensure the victory.
Senior
Gabriella Caccamo (Suffern, NY/Suffern) was lights out as she pitched a one-hitter and allowed just three base runners the entire game. Classmate
Sara Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs in game two. Joss,
Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School), and
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) were all 3-for-4, while
Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) and
Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) were each 2-for-4. Caccamo and
Adrian Duvall (Lisbon, NY/Lisbon Central School) also had hits.
The Pioneers (13-13, 8-12 Empire 8) open the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament next weekend at Keuka College. Game time and date is to be determined.
