UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team split its doubleheader against Nazareth College on Saturday afternoon.
 
Utica 4, Nazareth 6
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) and Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) led the way, each recording three hits while Joss tallied two RBIs. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) each had two hits. Paul and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) each had one RBI in the contest.
 
In the circle, Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) went 5.2 innings allowing six runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts. The senior pitched fantastic for the first five innings before Nazareth finally got to her in the 6th inning. Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) relieved her and pitched a flawless final 1.1 innings not allowing a hit.
 
Utica struck quickly in the 1st inning scoring two runs as Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) tripled to score Joss before Doiron's sacrifice fly brought home Paul. The Pioneers offense continued to produce scratching across another run in the 2nd as Joss doubled down the left field line to score Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker).
 
Nazareth scratched across a run in the top of the 4th on an RBI single. Yet, Utica responded in the bottom of the 4th as another Joss double scored Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) to increase the Pioneer lead to 4-1. 
 
The Golden Flyers scored again in the top of the 5th to cut the lead to 4-2 before having a four run 6th inning. Utica mustered up a few rallies yet could not overcome the 6th inning comeback by Nazareth. 
 
Utica 2, Nazareth 1
Game two was a pitcher's duel as the teams combined for just 11 hits. Joss, Paul, Zulager, Sacks, and Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) each had one hit in the game. Joss and Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) each recorded one RBI apiece.
 
In the circle, Murray was fantastic pitching a complete game allowing just one run, zero earned, on six hits with four strikeouts. Murray improved her record to 5-3 and was fantastic at inducing soft contact all day.
 
The pitcher's duel paired with stellar defense had the game tied 0-0 after five innings. Nazareth scored the game's first run in the 6th inning after an error to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Utica rallied in the bottom of the 6th as Catlin singled to start the inning. Joss doubled to deep right center to bring home Catlin and knot the game at 1-1. Murray's sacrifice bunt moved Joss to third and a throwing error brought her home and gave Utica a 2-1 lead. Murray shut the door in the seventh and the Pioneers held on to win game two and split the doubleheader.
 
Utica (15-9, 4-2 Empire 8) will remain home and host St. John Fisher in a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. at Greenman Field.