UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team will begin its season on Sunday, March 12 against the University of Maine, Presque Isle at 11 a.m. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Later that day, the Pioneers will also go up against Plattsburgh State in Little River, SC. 
 
Follow Along: Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic will provide live video at a cost via https://www.fastpitchdreams.citymax.com/livestreaming.html. 
 
Last Season: The team finished last season sixth in the Empire 8 with a 14-24 overall record and a 6-8 conference record. Utica finished off its season with an impressive doubleheader sweep over Keuka College scoring 32 runs over the two game span. Utica was an offensive powerhouse ranking top-three in hits (304) and doubles (57) while leading the conference with 23 home runs. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) and Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) were two of the top hitters in the conference with each being top-ten in batting average, slugging percentage, on base plus slugging percentage, and home runs. The duo of  Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) (1B) and Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) (2B) both made the Empire 8 First Team All-Conference teams for their terrific seasons. Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) turned in a great first year campaign and made the Empire 8 Second Team All-Conference as a catcher. Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School) made the Empire 8 Third Team All-Conference as an outfielder and Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) won Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year.
 
Season Outlook: The Pioneers will play 38 games this season with the first ten being in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Upon returning home, the team will play Cazenovia College, SUNY Poly, Union College, RPI, Skidmore College, and Hamilton College in non-conference games. Empire 8 play begins on Friday, April 7 and, if qualified, the Empire 8 Conference Tournament will run from May 9-13. 
 
In the Dugout: Rinae Olsen '09 was named as the new Head Softball Coach during the offseason. She was a four-year starter as well as assistant coach to the program where she helped Utica capture its first Empire 8 regular season championship before going to Ithaca College. In her time spent at Ithaca she won four conference titles and tallied five NCAA appearances. Olsen will be joined by pitching coach Kari Beane in her 13th season with the Pioneers. Also in the dugout is new assistant coach Megan White who was a standout player at Skidmore College batting .460 with zero strikeouts and was named Liberty League Player of the Year last season.
 
The Returners: The team returns an incredible 15 players including Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School), Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School), Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), Julia Phelps (Waterford, NY/Shenendehowa High School), Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester), Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz), Abriana Wadey, Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School), Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional), Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie), and Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa). 
 
Key Loss: The team lost Kaitlyn Paul (Albany, NY/Guilderland) who was the team's second best hitter last season batting .357 which ranked tenth in the conference. Paul was fantastic hitting seven home runs, 10 doubles, 36 runs batted in, and a .634 slugging percentage. The Albany, NY native was top-ten in the Empire 8 in batting average, slugging percentage, on base plus slugging, runs batted in, doubles, and home runs. 
 
Fresh Faces: The team features four fresh faces as Julia Huckabone, Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), and Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) have all joined the squad. All four freshmen will look to make immediate impacts and help the team contend for an Empire 8 championship.
 
Slugging It: Key returner Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) is looking to make a stamp on this upcoming season. The back-to-back two time Empire 8 All-Conference player has established herself as a hitting finatic within the team. The graduate student has racked up a total of 100 games played over her entire career while maintaining a .367 batting average and .549 slugging percentage. This comes in addition to racking up over 100 hits and batting in 61 runs. With regards to all-time records, Emily is sixth for career batting average, seventh in slugging percentage, fourth in on-base percentage, and seventh in stolen bases. 
 
Taking the Leap: Star sophomore Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) dominated the competition landing herself on the Empire 8 All-Conference Second Team in her first season. In her 38 games played she recorded 35 hits and batted in 19 runs wild holding a .302 batting average and .440 slugging percentage. 
 
Doing it All: Sophomore Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester), pitching ace and hitting threat, is eyeing up the competition. As a pitcher, Murray finished her freshman season with a record of 8-11 with a 4.00 ERA over 131.1 innings pitched. She's currently eighth all-time in program history in strikeouts per nine innings, and was also an Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week for her tremendous week in April where she recorded three wins in four starts with 26 strikeouts in 31 innings pitched. As a hitter, the dual threat played 35 games recording eight hits and had three runs batted in while having a .276 batting average and a .301 slugging percentage. 
 
In the Circle: The Pioneers have plenty of options to mix and match in their pitching rotation composed of both new and returning players. Ace Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) will lead the charge stemming from her breakout freshman season. She will be supported by returning sophmores Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional), and senior Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School). Freshman newcomer to the pitching staff Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) will look to showcase her skills as well.  
 
Behind the Plate: The Pioneers will have plenty of experience behind the plate for this upcoming season. Graduate Student Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) has racked up 62 games played while having a fielding percentage of .981. She will be supported by sophomore Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) and junior Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) who both displayed their catching abilities last season. 
 
Kicking it Off: Utica will kick off its campaign on Sunday, March 12 at 11 a.m. against The University of Maine, Presque Isle who sported a 5-27 record last season. The team's top hitter Jordan Hansen will be a key loss as she batted .412 with 10 homeruns, eight doubles, and four triples. Zoe Aylward-Frank will lead the way after batting .317 last season. The team's pitching will be rebranded as the team's top two starters are gone. The Pioneers will also play Plattsburgh State at 3 p.m. The Cardinals are led by Kristen Langdon and Julia Golino who each batted higher than .330 with at least 32 hits and 16 runs batted in. On the mound Kristina Maggiacoma and Julia Golino lead the way, each recording at least 16 appearances, seven complete games, and at least 61 strikeouts. 
 
Day 2: The Pioneers will face Franciscan University on Monday, March 13 at 1 p.m. and then Randolph College at 5 p.m. Franciscan is led by Kimberly McDaniels who had a tremendous freshman campaign batting .422 with 13 doubles and nine runs batted in. McDaniels is also the team's top returning pitcher as she tallied 84.1 innings with 32 strikeouts. Randolph is 5-5 this season and will play two more games before heading to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Freshman Taryn Campbell has been scorching batting .579 with eight runs batted in. Dominique Irving and Railey Oetken are also having nice seasons each batting at least .348 with four runs batted in. Emily Morris is the team's ace as she is 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA over 13 innings with 11 strikeouts and just one earned run.
 
Rolling On: Utica will face the University of Scranton on Tuesday, March 14 at 9 a.m. and then duel against Cairn University at 1 p.m. Scranton is 1-1 this season after splitting its series against NYU. Jenna Davida is the team's best hitter batting .375 with two triples thus far. Soleil Dooner and Emma Tirollo are the team's top two pitchers each recording at least six innings with five strikeouts this season. Abby Heacock leads the charge for Cairn after batting an impressive .391 with nine doubles and 25 runs batted in as a freshman. Kacey Wees is the team's veteran having recorded 24 appearances last season with 113.2 innings pitched and two complete games.
 
Day 4: The Pioneers will face FDU-Florham on Thursday, March 16 at 11 a.m. and then Keene State at 3 p.m. FDU-Florham is led by Kristen Tigar who batted .360 last season with six doubles and 12 runs batted in. Ciara Hoffman returns as the team's ace with 23 appearances, 12 complete games, and 75 strikeouts over 115 innings last season. Sara Cote and Molly Murray are the team's top returners with each batting at least .358 with at least 39 hits. Cote was the team's top power bat with three home runs and 21 runs batted in. On the mound, Carissa Miller and Lilah Demmy return after logging at least 19 appearances with 81 innings, and 60 strikeouts last season.
 
End of the Trip: Utica will conclude its trip facing UMass Boston on Friday, March 17 at 11 a.m. and then Lycoming College at 1 p.m. Sydney Sanden returns as the team's top bat after posting a .325 batting average with 37 hits and 27 runs batted in last season. Bri Melchionda is the team's top dual threat after batting .321 last season with 23 runs batted in while going 10-6 with four shutouts over 98.1 innings on the mound last season. Morgan Wetzel and Rachel Daub return as the team's top bats after batting at least .327 nine doubles and nine runs batted in last season. Kylie Russell and Payton Whary return to the mound after each logging at least 18 appearances, 56 innings, and 31 strikeouts last season. 
 
Up Next: The team will return home and host Cazenovia College on Saturday, March 25 in a doubleheader with the first game at 1 p.m. and the second at 3 p.m.