ORLANDO, FL - The Utica University softball team wrapped up day two of The Spring Games topping Rutgers-Newark 10-6 and later falling to Southern Maine 12-2.
 
Utica 10, Rutgers-Newark 6
 
Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) continued her fierce start to the new campaign going a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs, and three runs. Zulager was seeing the ball well, racking up a double and a triple. Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) also turned in a tremendous game going 2-for-4 with a team-leading three RBIs and one homer. Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) went 2-for-3 with one run scored with Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) going 1-for-4 with one RBI. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) each tallied one hit in the contest.
 
Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) got the start in the circle going two innings plus allowing four runs, one earned, on two hits, two walks, with two punchouts. She was relieved by Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) who went five innings allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits, no walks, while striking out four to collect the victory.
 
The Scarlet Raiders got off to a quick start plating two in the top of the 1st with two hits in the inning to claim a 2-0 edge. Yet the Pioneers responded with Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) reaching on an error and scoring on a Zulager single to cut it to 2-1. Rodriguez and Zulager came around to score on another error to give Utica a 3-2 lead. Doiron homered to center field to score Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) and increase the Utica lead to 5-2 after a busy first inning.
 
It was a quiet second inning with Rutgers-Newark using a pair of walks to create some havoc on the basepaths in the 3rd. The Scarlet Raiders capitalized on a single through the right side to knot the game at 5-5 after three innings of play.
 
Little got the party started in the 4th smacking a leadoff double to center field. Luster singled to bring home Little and give Utica a 6-5 lead. Zulager doubled to center field to score Luster with Zulager later coming around to score to make it an 8-5 Pioneers lead after four innings of play.
 
Utica struck again in the 6th with Zulager tripling and coming in to score on an error to increase the lead to 9-5. Doiron singled to bring home Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and push the Pioneers lead to 10-5. Rutgers-Newark tacked on one run in the top of the 7th, yet Utica held on for a 10-6 victory.
 
Southern Maine 12, Utica 2 (5 Inn.)
 
Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) led the team offensively, going 2-for-3 with one run scored. Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) went 1-for-1 with a solo home run, one RBI, and one run. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) and Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) each went 1-for-3.
 
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) got the start in the circle going 2.1 innings allowing 12 runs, three earned, on nine hits, allowing one walk and striking out a pair and was credited with the loss. Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) pitched well going 1.2 innings allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out one.
 
The Huskies got off to a strong start using multiple home runs to grab a 7-0 lead after two innings of play. Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) went deep in the top of the 3rd to get the Pioneers on the board as they trailed 7-1.
 
Southern Maine tacked on five more runs to grab a 12-1 lead yet Utica had a busy 4th inning with two hits with Rodriguez scoring to make it a 12-2 game which would stand as the game's final score.
 
Utica (2-2, 0-0 Empire 8) will remain in Orlando, FL and face North Park University on Tuesday, March 12 at 1:45 p.m. and then the College of Wooster at 4 p.m.