ORLANDO, FL - The Utica University softball team kicked off its new season on Sunday afternoon and split its games. The team fell 8-0 (5 Inn.) to Ohio Northern University and topped Mitchell College 8-1.
 
Ohio Northern 8, Utica 0 (5 Inn.)
 
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) went 1-for-2 with Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) going a perfect 1-for-1 to account for Utica's two hits. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), and Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) each reached base once via a walk.
 
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) got the nod in the circle pitching all four innings allowing eight runs, all earned, on eight hits, four walks, one hit batter, while punching out three and being credited with the loss.
 
Joss walked to begin the contest and stole second before advancing to third on a groundout. Zulager later walked and stole second with Rodriguez also walking to load the bases with just one out. However, the Pioneers couldn't capitalize as Ohio Northern got out of the jam to keep it scoreless after the top of the 1st.
 
After that both pitchers settled in nicely with neither offense getting many scoring opportunities through the first few innings of play.
 
The Polar Bears started to find their groove scoring three in the 3rd and tacking on five more runs in the 4th to grab an 8-0 lead which would stand as the game's final.
 
Utica 8, Mitchell 1
 
Game two featured 12 Pioneer hits with Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), and Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) each tallying a pair. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) had a massive day at the plate driving in a team-leading four RBIs including a three-run homer. Amanda Chavarria (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) had one hit with two RBIs with Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) and Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) each recording one hit and one RBI.
 
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) was dominant in the circle going seven innings allowing just one earned run, on three hits, with no walks, and striking out five to earn the victory.
 
Joss tripled to start the game and scored on a Paul sacrifice fly to give Utica a very quick 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Mitchell wasted no time tying the contest 1-1 in the bottom of the inning with the run coming on a single to shortstop.
 
Yet it would be all Pioneers from there with the team scoring seven unanswered runs. Zulager doubled to left center field in the 3rd and scored on a Kraft single up the middle to give Utica a 2-1 lead.
The Pioneers had a big 4th inning with Rodriguez singling to start the rally and Joss also reaching base on an error. Paul delivered the big blow with a towering three run homer to put Utica up 5-1 after 4 innings of play.
 
Utica scored a pair in the 6th as Rodriguez singled again and scored on a Beleza single up the middle to make it 7-1. The Pioneers kept the momentum going with five hits and three runs in the inning as Chavarria singled to right field to score Joss and Paul and increase the lead to 8-1 which would remain the final score.
 
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) will continue its stay in Orlando, FL with a doubleheader on Monday, March 11 facing Rutgers-Newark at 11:15 a.m. and the University of Southern Maine at 1:30 p.m.