WEBSTER, NY - The Utica University softball team improved to 4-0 in Empire 8 play following a doubleheader sweep of the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Saturday evening. Utica took game one in five innings, 10-2, before taking game two, also in five innings, 10-0.
Game 1: Utica 10, Nazareth 1 (5 Inn.)
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls),
Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) and
Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) combined for six of Utica's 11 hits in the win. Joss went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and a walk, Doiron hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and Luster went 2-for-4 with two runs and runs driven in. Luster also stole two bags and Joss one.
In the circle,
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) earned her sixth win of the year after going all five innings. Conte allowed just the one run on five hits and no walks while striking out a pair.
The Pioneers had one run come across in the top of the 1st when Joss touched home on a wild pitch. Each of the team's ensuing nine runs came between the 3rd and 5th innings.
Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) drove in Utica's lone run in the 3rd when she singled home
Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) on a base hit to right field. The team went on to score five more times in the 4th inning and three more times in the 5th to lead 10-0 going into the home half.
Conte's lone blemish of the game came in Nazareth's half of the 5th on a two-out home run by Morgan Russo. Regardless, Conte induced a game-ending fly out on the ensuing at-bat to close out game one early via run rule.
Game 2: Utica 10, Nazareth 0 (5 Inn.)
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) carried a no-hitter into the 5th inning of the game before surrendering it with one out in the 5th. She also had a perfect game going into the bottom of the 4th. In earning her fourth win of the year, the junior tossed a complete game shutout while facing just two over the minimum by way of a walk and base-hit. She also struck out six.
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls),
Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) and
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) each had two hits; Paul doing so with two RBI and Joss with one.
Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) connected for her first home run of the season as well.
In fact, Zulager's long ball gave the Pioneers a 1-0 edge in the top of the 1st as the blast served as the team's lone run of the frame.
However, Murray sent the Golden Flyers down in order in the bottom of the 1st before Utica hung five runs on the board in the top of the 2nd. Murray set the side in order again in the 2nd and 3rd innings as the game moved into the 4th with Utica up 6-0.
Kraft drove in two more Utica runs in the top of the 4th in what was a four-run inning for the Pioneers. Murray lost her bid for a perfect game in the home half on a leadoff walk before getting the next three batters out in order.
With the no-hitter still in line in the bottom of the 5th, Nazareth spoiled Murray's chance of a hitless outing with a one out single in the bottom of the frame. Despite this, Murray pitched into two pop outs to close the game and help complete the sweep.
Utica (13-5, 4-0 Empire 8) will return home on Wednesday, April 17 for a doubleheader against SUNY Poly for a makeup set that was previously scheduled for March 27. Game one is set to begin at 4 p.m.
