ROCHESTER, NY- The Utica University softball team dropped a pair of 3-2 decisions to host Nazareth College in Empire 8 Conference action Sunday afternoon.
Utica 2, Nazareth 3- Game One Final
The Golden Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on its first hit of the game as Cassidy Hoffmier hit an RBI double to left center to score one. The Pioneers responded in the fourth as freshman
Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker ) hit a homer run in her second straight game.
With two outs and runners on first and second, Hoffmier had another clutch hit as she doubled to right center to score two to give Naz a 3-1 lead after five. The Pioneers got one back in the top of the sixth as
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) doubled to center to score sister
Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland), but that was as close as Utica would come as the Golden Flyers held on for the win.
Kraft,
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland),
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor),
Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School), and
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) each had one hit for the Pioneers. Murray struck out seven and allowed just four hits in the complete game, while Emily Daciw finished with five strikeouts in the win.
Utica 2, Nazareth 3- Game Two Final
Nazareth jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a solo home run from Sarah Simmons. Utica evened the score in the top of the third when
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) singled with the bases loaded to score
Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack).
Naz regained the lead in the sixth inning when Maggie Burdick hit an RBI double to plate one, but Utica once against tied things up as Joss hit a sac fly in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. After a leadoff double in the bottom of the eighth, Marissa Berghorn singled to center field to score the winning run.
Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) and
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) were each 2-for-4 in game two, while
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) and
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) also had hits.
Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa ) finished with five strikeouts as she shouldered the loss, while Maddie Funk picked up the win for Nazareth as she allowed eight hits and just one earned run in eight innings.
The Pioneers return to action on Wednesday as they travel to local rival, Hamilton College. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m.
