CLERMONT, FL- The Utica University softball team dropped both games on the opening day of the 2022 campaign as it dropped a 7-5 walkoff decision to McDaniel College and then fell 13-10 in extra innings to Fredonia.  Freshman Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) was 6-for-8 with five RBI over the two games to lead the Pioneers.
 
Utica 5, McDaniel 7- Final
The Pioneers wasted little time getting things going as they took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  With two on and two out, freshman Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) made the most of her first collegiate at bat as she hit a three-run homer to left field to put Utica on top. 
 
The score remained the same until the bottom of the third when Isabella Sylvester hit a two-run shot of her own to pull the Green Terror within one.  An RBI single in the fourth inning evened the score, but a two-run blast by Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) put the Pioneers back on top.
 
Utica had a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, but a sac fly evened the score and two batters later Mattie Whalen hit a two-run home run to right field to seal the comeback victory.
 
Sacks was 2-for-3 to lead the way, while Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) ad Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) were each 2-for-4 with three runs combined between them.  Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) was 1-for-4.
 
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) fanned four in four innings of work, while freshman Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) had three strikeouts in her first career appearance. 
 
Utica 10, Fredonia 13 (8 Inn.)- Final
Fredonia led the game from the get-go as it jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the first and led 6-2 after two.  The Blue Devils tacked on two more scores in the fifth, but a pair of RBIs from Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) and Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) in the bottom of the sixth cut the deficit in half.
 
Trailing 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh Utica exploded for five runs to force extra innings. Sanford sparked the rally as she doubled to right field to score two.  Back-to-back walks from Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) ad Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) plated another run to bring the Pioneers within two.  The next at bat, a wild play featuring a throwing error and an obstruction call led to Utica tying the game at 9-9 and forcing extra innings.
 
Fredonia scored four in the top of the eighth and the Pioneers were not able to duplicate their magic a second time as the Blue Devils hung on for the win.
 
Sacks had another great showing as she finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs and one run scored.  Sanford was 2-for-2 and Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.  McElwain was 2-for-4, while Phelps ad Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also had hits.
 
Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa ), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional ), and Jordy Conte combined for six strikeouts for the Pioneers.
 
Utica will face a quick turnaround as it takes on Oswego State and Mount Saint Mary in back-to-back games beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday.