ELMIRA, NY- The Utica University softball team had a pair of walk off wins to come away with its first Empire 8 Conference sweep of the season as the Pioneers downed Elmira College 2-1 and 4-3 on Tuesday evening.
Utica 2, Elmira 1- Game One Final
The first game of the series was a pitcher's duel as the game was scoreless through five innings and the teams combined for just seven hits through the first five frames. Elmira, the designated visiting team in the series, broke the deadlock in the top of the sixth as leadoff batter Amelia Martin doubled to left field. Martin advanced to third on a groundout, then scored on a wild pitch to give the Soaring Eagles the 1-0 lead.
Utica evened the score in the bottom of the seventh as
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) scored on an error by Elmira's shortstop. Then, with runners on second and third with two outs,
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) singled to right field to score
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) and earn the walk off win.
Freshman
Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck ) led the way going 2-for-3 in game one. The Pioneers also had hits from Joss,
Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School),
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland),
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie), and
Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz). Phelps and
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) each had one steal in the win.
Freshman
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) had another impressive showing in the circle as she struck out five and gave up just one run on five hits in the complete game win. Her counterpart, Ally Barr fanned two and allowed seven hits in the loss.
Utica 4, Elmira 3- Game Two Final
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Utica had more walk off magic as freshman
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) hit an RBI single to score
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) from second to send the Pioneers home with the sweep.
Utica jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as
Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) singled to drive in Joss. The score remained the same until the fourth inning when Elmira got one back to knot things a 1-1. Utica regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth as
Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) hit another RBI single, this time driving in two runs.
Facing a do-or-die situation, Elmira plated two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the score before
Lauren Paul's (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) heroics gave Utica the win.
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) tossed another lights out game as she once against struck out five and allowed just six hits in another complete game win.
The Pioneers (8-14, 3-3 E8) return home Wednesday to host cross town rival, SUNY Poly. Game one is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
