ORLANDO, FL - The Utica University softball team wrapped up another day at The Spring Games topping No. 8 Bethel 7-2 and falling to Curry 5-4 in extra innings.
 
Utica 7, No. 8 Bethel 2
 
Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz) led the way offensively smacking two hits with two RBIs and a run scored. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) continued her monster start to her Pioneer career going 2-for-3 with one RBI, one walk, and one run scored. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) had one hit with two RBIs, one walk, and one run. Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) and Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) each added an RBI with Utica's entire lineup contributing with seven different players scoring a run.
 
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) was terrific in the circle pitching 6.1 innings on four hits allowing two runs, both earned, with three walks issued, and one punchout to pick up the win and improve her record to 3-1. Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional) closed out the game recording the last two outs while not allowing a baserunner and striking out one.
 
Bethel enjoyed a strong start to the game smacking a pair of hits leading to a run to grab a 1-0 edge in the top of the 1st. Yet the Pioneers rallied with a trio of walks in the bottom of the inning leading to a plethora of baserunners. Luster tied the game on a Dorion walk with Rodriguez scoring on a Little walk. A timely Finch single through the right side put Utica up 3-1 after one inning of play.
 
Doiron doubled to begin the bottom of the 3rd and came around to score just two batters later as a Finch double to right brought her home and made it 4-1 Pioneers. Joss smacked Utica's third double of the inning to score Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) and Finch to push the lead to 6-1. Just a few batters later Rodriguez singled to right field to score Joss and give the Pioneers a 7-1 advantage after three innings.
 
Both pitchers got into a groove combining to allow just two hits over the next three innings. Bethel smacked a homer in the 7th to make it 7-2 yet Thornton slammed the door to secure the impressive 7-2 ranked victory for Utica.
 
Curry 5, Utica 4 (8 Inn.)
 
The trio of Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter), Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy), and Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) each recorded a pair of hits with Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) roping one. Kraft and Paul each had one RBI with Luster scoring a team-leading two runs.
 
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) got the start in the circle pitching five innings allowing seven hits on four runs, three earned, issuing one walk, and striking out four. She was relieved by Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) who went two innings allowing three hits, two runs, one earned, with two walks, and three strikeouts and was credited with the loss.
 
It was a pitcher's duel to begin the game with three clean innings of no runs allowed. Kraft singled to start the rally in the 4th and came home to score the game's first run on a Paul double to center field. Yet Curry responded, tying the game in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly.
 
Utica had another strong inning in the 5th with Luster reaching base via a hit by pitch and Rodriguez slapping a single to give the team two base runners with no outs. Both came around to score as the team capitalized on an error to take a 3-1 lead. Yet, Curry responded again with three hits in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at 3-3.
 
The Colonels took a 4-3 lead in the 6th yet the Pioneers rallied in the 7th with Luster reaching base again and tying the game on a wild pitch with the bullpen shutting the door sending the game to extras. But Curry walked it off in the 8th inning to win the game 5-4.
 
Utica (4-4, 0-0 Empire 8) will conclude The Spring Games on Friday, March 15 against Macalester College at 1:30 p.m. and Gettysburg College at 4 p.m. in Orlando, Fl.