UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team earned local bragging rights over the SUNY Poly Wildcats after sweeping its crosstown rivals with 7-1 and 2-1 (8 Inn.) wins. 
 
Utica 7, Poly 1
The Wildcats started game one with a leadoff home run to left field off of a Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) fastball for an early 1-0 advantage. The freshman Murray settled in after the long ball, retiring the next three Poly hitters to enter the home half. 
 
 Utica's offense found support for its pitcher in the bottom of the 2nd inning as the team scored seven runs, all of which coming with two outs. Murray helped her own cause with the initial two-out RBI as she scored Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck ) on a single to right field. Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) followed with an infield single to plate Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) while Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) doubled home a pair on a knock to left field. 
 
The next batter, Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland), followed Joss' suite with a two-RBI double of her own to open the team's lead to 6-1. Paul eventually scored the seventh run of the inning on an infield error at short. 
 
From there, Murray set down six of the next seven Poly batters through the 3rd and 4th innings before escaping a 5th frame in which the Wildcats had runners on second and first with one down. She then retired three of four in the 6th inning with a pair of strikeouts before completing the game in the 7th unharmed for the team's third win in a row. 
 
Murray went the distance for Utica, allowing just the 1st inning run on eight hits to go with six strikeouts and no walks. At the dish, Joss and Murry led the team with two-hit efforts while Joss and Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) drove in two runs each. 
 
Utica 2, Poly 1 (8 Inn.)
Utica starting pitcher Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) and Poly starter Caitlin Reilly went toe-to-toe through the first seven innings as neither allowed a run. 
 
The Wildcats had a chance in the 3rd inning as they threatened with runners on second and third with one away. However, Conte forced a foul pop out to Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) at first base before the next hitter flew out to center for the junior to escape the jam. Poly had one more opportunity in the 7th inning with bases loaded and no outs. Once again, Conte retired the next three batters thanks to a groundout to third that cut down the runner at home, a foul out to first base and a flyout to center. 
 
After the Pioneers were sent down in order in the home half, Poly began the 8th frame with a runner on second. A dribbler between home and third base allowed the Wildcats to have runners on the corners with none out before the next batter grounded into a 6-4 fielder's choice to allow the runner from third to score. Conte retired the next two Poly batters to lead Utica into the bottom of the 8th down to its final three outs. 
 
With Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) starting on second, Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) drilled a double to right-center field to score Phelps from second and tie the game at 1-1. After Paul advanced the third on a wild pitch, Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) ended the game on a fly ball to right field to give the Pioneers their third walk-off win in the last four games. 
 
Conte pitched all eight innings allowing one run, unearned, on seven hits while issuing two walks and one strikeout. The Pioneers had three hits in game two, one each by Phelps, Paul and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie). 
 
Utica (10-14, 3-3 Empire 8) will be back at home on Saturday for a doubleheader against Russell Sage College on senior day. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Greenman Softball Field.