CANANDAIGUA, NY- The fifth-seeded Utica College softball team exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth inning to come away with a 9-1 run-rule victory over No. 4 seed Keuka College in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament on Saturday.
 
The Pioneers (14-13) now advance to the double-elimination round of the tournament.  Utica will take on top-seeded St. John Fisher College at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.  All games for the remainder of the tournament will be at St. John Fisher College.
 
Utica fell down 1-0 in the first inning as Emily VanDelinder singled through the left side to score Abby Kruse. The score remained the same until the fourth inning when Utica led off the inning with back-to-back triples by Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) evened the score at one.  Senior Madison Akots (Wynantskill, NY/Emma Willard School) drove in Joss in the next at bat to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. 
 
Utica pulled away in the fifth inning thanks to hits by Akots, Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School), and a three-run triple by freshman Erica Sanford (Boonvile, NY/Adirondack).  Akots led the Pioneers going 2-for-2 with a walk on the day.  Sophomore Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) allowed just four hits and struck out one to pick up her ninth win of the season.