BUFFALO, NY- The Utica University softball team staved off a late-inning rally in game two to salvage a split against host Medaille College on Thursday afternoon. The Mavericks took game one 5-0, but the Pioneers responded with a 6-5 win in game two. Senior
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) led the way going 4-for-5 over the two games for Utica.
Utica 0, Medaille 5- Game One Final
Each team had just one hit through the first two and a half innings until Medaille was finally able to break through with one run on three hits in the bottom of the third. The Mavericks tacked on two more scores in the fourth and put the game away with a pair in the sixth to earn the shutout win.
Joss led the Pioneers going 2-for-3 at the dish, while
Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School),
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor),
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School), and Taylor Craft each had one hit.
Freshman
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) struck out seven, while her counterpart, Kaitlyn Alguire fanned four in six innings as she was credited with the win.
Utica 6, Medaille 5- Game Two Final
The Pioneers wasted little time getting things going in game two as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) opened the scoring as she singled to right field to score
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls). Then with runners on second and third,
Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker ) doubled to right center to score Sacks and
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School). With two outs and runners on the corners, hit an RBI double that drove in Kraft to give Utica the 4-0 cushion.
Medaille cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the second inning, but the Pioneers responded in the top of the third with a pair of runs off two straight wild pitches.
Trailing 6-3 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Medaille threatened with runners on second and third and the tying run at the plate. The Utica defense kept the ball in the infield to only allow one run. Conte caused the next batter to pop up to second base to end the inning with Utica holding a two-run lead.
Down to its last out, Medaille came within one as Shay Sommer hit a triple to right center to score one. A fly out to right center in the next at bat sealed the win for the Pioneers.
Joss was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks to lead the Utica offense.
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) meanwhile was 2-for-3. Sacks, Kraft, Conte, and
Abigayle Jepsen (Hudson, NY/Hudson ) each had one hit.
Conte allowed just one earned run as she went the distance to collect her fourth win of the year. Sarah Hapeman, meanwhile finished with three strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
The Pioneers (12-18) hit the road for a a big weekend of Empire 8 Conference play. Utica to travel to St. John Fisher College on Saturday before facing Nazareth College on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. both days.
