UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team fell in both games to St. John Fisher on Sunday afternoon by scores of 5-2 in game one and 6-1 in game two.
 
Fisher 5, Utica 2
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester), Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker), and Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) all recorded one hit in the contest. Doiron had one RBI while Joss scored both of Utica's runs.
 
In the circle, Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) was credited with the loss after pitching six innings allowing five runs, two earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts. Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) relieved Conte and pitched the 7th inning allowing just one hit.
 
Utica started off hot as Doiron singled up the middle to score Joss and give Utica a 1-0 lead. But Fisher responded by plating three runs in the 2nd inning capitalizing on a pair of errors.
 
The Pioneers were clawing back as a hard-hit ball by Doiron resulted in an error that scored Joss and cut the Cardinal lead to 4-2 in the 5th. However, Fisher responded in the 6th inning adding an insurance run and held on for a 5-2 victory.
 
Fisher 6, Utica 1
Ainsley Evanetski pitched phenomenal for Fisher, inducing lots of soft contact and pop ups for Utica. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) each recorded a hit while Zulager recorded the lone Pioneer RBI.
 
In the circle, Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) received the loss after pitching six innings allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Gargiulo relieved her to pitch the 7th and allowed three earned runs on four hits.
 
The game was quiet for the first few innings in a pitcher's duel until Fisher singled up the middle to gain a 1-0 lead in the 3rd. Utica threatened in the bottom of the inning as Sacks rifled one into the left center gap, yet was stymied. 
 
The Cardinals tacked on one run in the 4th and 6th to take a 3-0 lead. Fisher then delivered a big blow with a two-run triple in the top of the 7th to take a 5-0 lead. The Cardinals added another run for a 6-0 lead before Zulager singled to bring home Paul in the bottom of the 7th inning. Fisher held on for the 6-1 win and series sweep.
 
Utica (15-11, 4-4 Empire 8) will hit the road to face Russell Sage College on Wednesday, April 19 in a doubleheader with game one beginning at 3 p.m.