UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team begins its final week of the regular season heading to face Houghton University on Saturday, May 6 in an Empire doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Houghton will provide live video and stats via https://bit.ly/2xy5ERx.
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University softball team was swept by the Alfred University Saxons at home on Friday evening by scores of 5-2 (10 inn.) and 8-3. Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) recorded the lone two hits for Utica: Zulager a double and Dorion a home run. In the circle Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional) and Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) combined for nine innings allowing two runs on 10 hits. Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) was credited with the loss as she allowed three runs, one earned, on two hits over 0.1 innings. The top of the 1st inning started off with Alfred getting three runners on base with one hit and scoring a run. In the bottom half of the inning, Utica found themselves with bases loaded but ended up leaving all three runners stranded as the game moved into the 2nd with Alfred up 1-0. Alfred tacked on a run in the top of the 3rd inning and eventually carried their lead into the 4th where Utica was still unable to produce much through the 4th inning with only a few walks but the Saxons still led 2-0. The Saxons ended up loading the bases with two outs at the top of the 5th inning but Thornton was able to see herself out of the inning with a groundout to short, escaping the jam with no damage.  It was in the bottom of the 6th inning where Utica was able to produce a pair of runs. With one out, Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) doubled to right-center, setting up a Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) two-run home run to center field to tie the game up at 2. From the 7th inning through the 9th, Megan Bennett of Alfred and Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) went toe-to-toe in the circle, neither allowing a run. However, Alfred scored three times in the top of the 10th which ultimately became the deciding factor. In game two, Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) made quick work in the 1st inning while the Pioneers scored in the bottom half with RBIs from Laurn Paul and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) to lead 2-0 entering the 2nd. Murray repeated her 1st inning performance with another quick 2nd to bring Utica back to the plate. However, the team would also come up empty but still held a 2-0 lead after two full. Later in the 4th, Alfred took its first lead after a three-run frame before striking again for two more in the 5th to lead 5-2 entering the home half. There, Utica chipped away. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) drove in a run to make it a 5-3 game entering the 6th. However, Alfred got the run back plus one more as the visitors claimed a 7-3 advantage. Utica threatened with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 6th but came away empty. The Saxons scored once more in the top half of the 7th to put the finishing touches on its sweep. 
 
Playoff Opportunity: Utica needs to win its final two games and get help to earn a postseason berth. The team can finish as high as fourth and low as eighth in the standings. Utica split regular season matches with both Nazareth and Elmira but would lose the tiebreaker on both but holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on Medaille. 
 
Team Success: Utica has been productive on both offense and defense ranking in the top half of the Empire 8 in various categories. The team ranks top-five in batting average (.297), runs (175), hits (261) while leading the Empire 8 with 74 doubles which is seven more than any other team. The Pioneers are second in home runs with 14 and second in RBI with 159. In the circle, the team ranks top-five in ERA (3.76), shutouts (four), and innings pitched (214). Utica looks to lean on its impressive production and earn an Empire 8 Conference Tournament berth.
 
Hitting it Off: Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) and Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) both rank top-ten in the conference in batting average and their bats have been crucial to the Pioneer's success. Joss is currently batting .420 on the year which ranks third and Zulager's .372 is ninth. Joss has recorded at least one hit in a whopping 25 of her 33 games played this season. Zulager has recorded a hit in 15 of her last 18 games and the duo's bats hope to help Utica against Houghton this weekend.
 
Helping Hands: The trio of Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional), and Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) have all been effective out of the bullpen this season. Habernig made three appearances this week recording 5.2 innings of work and allowing just four earned runs while striking out three. Thornton also made three appearances pitching 4.1 innings and was stellar allowing zero earned runs and just four hits. Gargiulo totaled 2.1 innings this week and remains the team's top reliever with 10 appearances so far this season. 
 
Scouting Houghton: The Highlanders sport a 7-28 record and are 1-13 in Empire 8 play this season. The team fell in its last game to Russell Sage 8-1 on Saturday, April 29 and will face Alfred State on Tuesday, May 2 before clashing with Utica on Saturday, May 6. Elise Swanson and Lydia Peterson both sport over a .320 batting average with at least 30 hits and eight RBI this season. The team's top run producer is Chyanne Bushyhead as she has 31 RBI paired with a .317 batting average, six home runs and 10 doubles. She ranks top-three in the conference in RBI and home runs and is a looming threat in the heart of the lineup. In the circle, Kayla Loomis has logged 116.1 innings this season which is 8.2 innings more than anyone else in the conference. Alisabeth Crandall and Jen Burrows are the team's other arms with each logging at least 36.1 innings of work and having at least one complete game under their belt.

Up Next: The Empire 8 Tournament begins on Tuesday, May 9 with the four-seed vs five-seed matchup with the time and opponents to be determined.