Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ALFRED, NY- The Utica University softball team dropped both games of its Empire 8 Conference opening double-header Sunday as it fell 6-4 and 6-2 at Alfred University.
 
Utica 4, Alfred 6- Game One Final
The Pioneers wasted little time getting things going as Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) picked up a leadoff walk in the first inning.  Phelps then stole second and was driven home the next at bat thanks to an RBI double by freshman Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland). 
 
Alfred responded in the bottom of the second with one run, but the pioneers regained the lead in the third with a pair of runs thanks to RBIs by freshmen Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck ) and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie).  The teams traded runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Alfred capitalized on two Utica errors and exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control of the game. 
 
The Pioneers mustered just four hits in the game, one each from Phelps, Paul, Sacks, and Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz).  Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) led Utica with three steals on the day, while Phelps and two and Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) finished with one. 
 
Freshman Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester ) struck out two and allowed just two earned runs on six hits as she pitched the complete game.  Arden Hatch meanwhile fanned seven and allowed just four hits in the win for Alfred.
 
Utica 2, Alfred 6- Game Two Final
Alfred jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.  The score remained the same until the fourth inning when Utica was able to get one back thanks to an RBI from Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck ).  Alfred extended its lead with two runs in the fifth inning thanks to a two-run homer from Mya Wells.
 
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) had an RBI single in the sixth that scored Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) to pull the Pioneers within three, but Alfred plated one in the bottom half of the inning to put the game away.
 
Joss accounted for three of Utica's six hits as she was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.  Sacks was 2-for-3 in game two, while Abriana Wadley (Utica, NY/Proctor) also had a hit.
 
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) shouldered the loss as the totaled two strikeouts and gave up five runs in 4.1 innings of work.  Mikaela Perez meanwhile picked up the win for the Saxons as she allowed just one run and four hits in five innings.
 
The Pioneers have a quick turnaround as they host Empire 8 foe Houghton College on Monday.  Game one of the double-header is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.