UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team will begin its 2024 season on Sunday, March 10 at 11:15 a.m. against Ohio Northern University before taking on Mitchell College at 1:30 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Live video will be available for all of the spring games here.
 
Last Season: The team finished last season 19-16 and had an 8-8 conference record. It was Utica's first winning season since 2018 and the team looks to build off last year's success. The Pioneers ended the 2023 campaign strong, sweeping a road doubleheader over Houghton University while outscoring them 18-4 in the two games. Utica was a slugging unit ranking top-three in the Empire 8 in doubles, home runs, and runs batted in. Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) was among the league's best hitters ranking second in batting average at .415 with Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) also being a premier bat at ninth in the conference with a .376 batting average. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) each ranked top-seven in the Empire 8, each rocketing at least five home runs. Joss and Zulager earned Empire 8 First Team All-Conference honors with Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (2nd team), Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) (3rd team) and Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) (Sportswoman) each earning All-Conference honors.
 
Season Outlook: Utica will play 38 games this season with the first 10 being in Orlando, FL at the Legends Way Sports Complex. Upon returning home, the team will play the University of Scranton, SUNY Poly, SUNY Morrisville, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Union College, Oswego State, and Hamilton College in non-conference play. Please Note: All dates and times are subject to change. 
 
In the Dugout: Rinae Olsen '09 returns for her second season after leading the team to their first winning season since 2018. Kari Beane returns for her 14th season with the Pioneers as the team's pitching coach with Megan White returning for her second season as assistant coach. 
 
Back for Another Go: Utica returns 14 players from last season as Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School), Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester), Abbigayle Finch (New Paltz, NY/New Paltz), Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls), Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker), Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional), Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional), Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark), Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie), Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston), and Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) all are back for another season with the team.
 
Key Losses: Brooke Catlin (Brewerton, NY/Central Square High School) and Bailey McElwain (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker High School) are the two key losses for Utica. Catlin was a mainstay for the Pioneers playing in 88 career games, tallying over 200 at bats with over 50 hits, 11 doubles, and nearly 30 runs driven in while suiting up behind the plate. McElwain was another steady producer for the Pioneers batting .300 for her career and appearing in 57 career games with 130 at bats and was versatile playing first base and outfield for the squad.
 
Ready to Make an Impact: The squad will feature six new faces plus the addition of Paige Graves (Syracuse, NY/Fayetteville-Manlius), who will make her debut with the Pioneers after not appearing last season due to injury. The newcomers include Amanda Chavarria (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke), Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs), Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College), Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter), Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy), and Courtney Robinson (Whitesboro, NY/Whitesboro). Beleza is the team's lone transfer coming in as a junior after two years of playing at Jefferson Community College batting .317 with 39 hits, nine doubles, three triples, and one home run, and 29 runs batted in over 123 at bats. Chavarria, Little, Luster, Rodriguez, and Robinson are freshmen and will look to make immediate impacts and help the team compete for an Empire 8 Championship.
 
Guess Who's Back, Back Again: Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) returns for another season with the team and will be the stud leadoff hitter and tablesetter for the unit. Joss was terrific last season boasting a .415 batting average which ranked second in the conference with 44 hits, 21 doubles, 21 runs batted in, 38 runs batted in, and 28 base on balls in another Empire 8 First Team All-Conference season. The Glens Falls, NY native is looking to continue climbing the all-time career record book and is the all-time walks leader and just one double shy from holding the all-time program record. Another monster season will have her competing to be the program's best in batting average, games played, slugging percentage, on base percentage, and runs scored.
 
Ace in the Circle: Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) gears up for another campaign with the Pioneers and looks to be the team's reliable ace again after going 7-6 with a 4.53 ERA, and 67 strikeouts over 93.1 innings pitched. The graduate student is top-10 in games started, wins, shutouts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Conte looks to turn in another standout campaign and be the face of the pitching staff. 
 
Veteran Leaders: The trio of Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester), Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) all return and will be crucial parts of the team's success. Murray turned in a stellar season on the mound boasting a 7-6 record with a 4.14 ERA, and 56 strikeouts over 82.2 innings pitched. She also was a great hitter with a .311 batting average, 32 hits, six doubles, and 17 runs batted in 103 at bats. Paul was a fantastic slugger in the heart of the lineup with a line of a .330 batting average, 38 hits, 10 doubles, six home runs, 30 runs batted in, and a .591 slugging percentage over 115 at bats. Sacks was another fine hitter amassing 25 hits, five doubles, and eight runs batted in while also providing a great glove behind the plate.
 
Heavy Hitters = California Love: Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) both enjoyed two fantastic seasons and were key sluggers in the heart of the Pioneers lineup combining for eight home runs and 54 runs batted in. The duo each had a slugging percentage over .523 and higher than a .288 batting average while each logging over 101 at bats. Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) and Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) also will join the squad from California and will look to each make immediate impacts after boasting impressive high school accolades with Little holding a .421 batting average and .446 on base percentage her senior year.
 
Florida Trip: The team will begin its season on Sunday, March 10 at 11:15 a.m. against Ohio Northern University and Mitchell College at 1:30 p.m. On Monday, March 11 the team will face Rutgers-Newark at 11:15 a.m. and battle the University of Southern Maine at 1:30 p.m. On Tuesday the 12th, the team will clash with North Park University at 1:45 p.m. and the College of Wooster at 4 p.m. Utica will then face Bethel University at 4 p.m. and Curry College at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. The Pioneers will complete the road trip on Friday, March 15 against Macalester College at 1:30 p.m. and Gettysburg College at 4 p.m.

Up Next: The team will hit the road to clash with the University of Scranton on Wednesday, March 20 at 1 p.m. with the second game at 3 p.m.