UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set to host SUNY Morrisville on Friday, March 29 with game one set for 3 p.m. and game two set for 5 p.m in its home opener.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend any of the games can tune in for live video and/or stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team wrapped up The Spring Games beating Macalester 9-0 (5 Inn.) and falling to Gettysburg 2-1 on Friday, March 15. Utica completed The Spring Games with a 5-5 record and split games all five days of action. The Pioneers offense was firing on all cylinders recording 12 hits and plating nine runs to end the game after five innings. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) continued her scorching start to her Pioneer career slapping a team high three hits with two RBIs and one run. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was a prime tablesetter going 2-for-3 with one walk and a team-high three runs scored. Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) collected two hits with one run scored and both Luster and Rodriguez are locked in, each sporting an eight-game hitting streak. Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) went 1-for-3 with three RBIs thanks to a bases-clearing double while Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) added one hit and a pair of RBIs. Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) added one hit, one run, and one RBI. Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) and Amanda Chavarria (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) each added one hit and one run. Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) was fantastic, pitching a five inning shutout while allowing just six hits with zero walks issued to collect her first win of the season. In game two, Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) led the way for the offense going a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) extended her hitting streak to nine-straight with one hit in the contest. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), and Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) all collected one hit. Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) got the start in the circle lasting five innings on one earned run, allowing six hits, five walks, and striking out three. Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) relieved her and pitched the final two innings allowing one unearned run on three hits, one walk, and struck out a pair while being credited with the loss.
 
The J-Rod Show: Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) is fresh off last week's Empire 8 Player of the Week honors after her phenomenal start to her Pioneer career. The freshman is currently in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak and has had multiple hits in seven of those games. Over the past week of appearances she has been batting a ridiculous .516 (16-for-31) with one homerun, three doubles, and five RBIs while scoring eight runs including at least one run in seven of eight.  
 
Perfect Week: Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) was named Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week last week after she turned in a stellar 3-0 week in the circle including topping No. 8 Bethel on March 14 with a line of 6.1 fantastic innings allowing just two earned runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout to collect the win. Over the course of the week she pitched 15.2 innings allowing just six hits, on six earned runs, on 16 hits while issuing five walks while striking out eight and sporting a 3.55 ERA.
 
Team Success: Utica has been off to a great start offensively with its .299 team batting average ranking second in the conference. The Pioneers lead the conference in hits (85), runs (55), doubles (16), and RBIs (47) and its lineup has been incredibly deep and consistently getting on base. Utica's 2.91 ERA ranks second in the Empire 8 with the dynamic duo of Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) and Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) both ranking top-seven in the conference with a sub 3.37 ERA. 
 
Hey Rook: Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) has had a great start to her Pioneer career sporting a .294 batting average including at least one hit in eight of her 10 career games. The Granada Hills, CA native has accumulated 10 hits while driving in four while also crossing the plate four times. 
 
Looking at Morrisville: The Mustangs are currently 3-7 after topping Lancaster Bible College 11-5 on Saturday, March 16. The team fell in a doubleheader to Elmira College on March 26 before facing Utica on Friday, March 29. Callie Lafontaine and Sophie Keehle are two prime tablesetters, each smacking 11 hits and at least seven runs this season. Emery Sawitzki is a dangerous middle of the lineup presence with a team-leading nine RBIs and four doubles. Piper Kaylor is the team's top pitcher with seven appearances and a 4.35 ERA over 27.1 innings pitched this season. Celeste Baldwin and Isabella Gaskins are two more reliable arms each pitching at least eight innings with at least four appearances this season.

Up Next: The team will travel to face No. 21 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 3 with game one set for 3 p.m. and game two scheduled for 5 p.m.