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Utica University Athletics

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Maxwell LeBuis - YSM Media

Softball

Softball Readies for Eight Game Week

UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set for a packed eight-game week. The team will travel and face No. 18 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Tuesday, April 16 in a doubleheader with game one at 3 p.m. and game two scheduled for 5 p.m. The team will then host SUNY Poly in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 17 at 3 p.m./5 p.m. and then host Houghton University on Friday, April 19 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The team will conclude its week hitting the road to clash with Alfred University on Saturday, April 20 with game one set for 1 p.m. and game two scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
Follow Along: RPI will provide live video here and live stats here. Those unable to attend Wednesday or Friday's home games can tune in for live video and/or stats here. Alfred will provide live video and stats here.
 
Last Time Out: The team improved to 4-0 in Empire 8 play following a doubleheader sweep of the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Saturday, April 13. Utica took game one in five innings, 10-2, before taking game two, also in five innings, 10-0. In game one, 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. In game two, 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. 
 
Where We Stand: The Pioneers are off to a perfect 4-0 start in conference play which has them tied for first place with St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 standings. Utica has been streaking as it is in the midst of an eight-game winning streak which is the longest current mark in the conference. The team remains among the top-three in the conference in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBIs. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) still finds herself amongst the top hitters in Division III as she is fifth in the nation batting .569. Her .922 slugging percentage is also a top-15 mark in DIII as well. In the circle the team has also been dominant, ranking top-three in ERA, wins, shutouts, and has done a fantastic job at minimizing baserunners and pitching out of jams.
 
Co-Pitcher of the Week: Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) was named Empire 8 Co-Pitcher of the Week after she dazzled in her lone outing of the week which resulted in a 10-0 Utica win over Nazareth on Saturday night. Murray 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 in the victory. 
 
Dancing on 'Em: Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) has been heating up as of late raising her batting average to .393 which currently ranks second on the team. She has recorded five hits, five runs, two doubles, and three RBIs over her last three outings and has been an on-base machine. The graduate student is also climbing multiple all-time records as she is just four runs away from being the program leader and her 167 career hits have her tied for fifth all-time. She is just two RBIs away from becoming the fourth player in program history to reach the century mark.
 
Pair of Sluggers: The duo of Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) and Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) have cemented themselves in the heart of the Pioneers batting order and turned in impressive weeks. Zulager has pushed her batting average up to .382 which is third on the team after she extended her hitting streak to seven games including scoring at least one run eight-straight. The sophomore has been driving in baserunners at a high clip with 11 RBIs over her last eight outings including two home runs during that stretch. Doiron enjoyed another productive week going 4-for-10 with a home run, double, one RBI and pair of runs.
 
Meet me in the Circle: Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) has been lights out in the circle this season sporting a 6-1 record over 33.1 innings pitched sporting a 2.73 ERA. She dazzled in her last outing on April 13 against Nazareth going five innings on five hits and just one earned run while punching out a pair. Conte has also been etching her name in the record books as her 27 wins rank fifth all-time, while she is also top-10 in appearances, games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
 
Looking at RPI: The No.18 Engineers are off to a fantastic 20-1-1 start to the 2024 campaign and fell to Union College 4-3 in its last game on Saturday, April 13. The offense is led by Callista Adorno, Erin Askins, and Alex Ledger who each sport over a .393 batting average, 1.061 OPS, with at least 24 hits, six extra base hits and 13 RBIs. Ledger is the team's power bat with a team-leading four home runs and 20 RBIs this season while Askins has been an on-base machine crossing the plate 24 times thus far. Brooke Sroczinski is the team's ace in the circle with an incredible .83 ERA, 9-0 record over 67.2 innings with just eight runs allowed. Ava Markert is a fantastic relief pitcher with a .77 ERA over 27.1 innings pitched with four saves and 25 strikeouts. 
 
Scouting the Wildcats: SUNY Poly is 16-4 this season and a perfect 10-0 in NAC play. The team is in the midst of a six-game winning streak and topped SUNY Canton 16-0 in its last game on Sunday, April 14. The offense has been very well balanced with five batters driving in more than 15 RBIs for the squad thus far. Ava Faragon leads the team with a .409 batting average with Kimberly Birmingham leading the team with 13 doubles and 25 RBIs and is a force in the middle of the lineup. Trinity Critelli and Joy Stevens have both had success in the circle, each notching six wins with at least 52 innings pitched, and less than a 1.83 ERA. The duo has not allowed many baserunners this season, each sporting a WHIP under 1.04.
 
Houghton Preview: The Highlanders are currently 6-15-1 this season and are 1-3 in Empire 8 play which has them tied for fifth in the conference standings. The team fell 6-1 to Keuka College in its last outing on Saturday, April 13. Houghton will clash with Hilbert and Alfred State before traveling to face Utica on Friday, April 19 at 3 p.m. Carlee Miller leads the offense with a .358 batting average, 1.046 OPS, 24 hits, 10 extra base hits, and 18 RBIs. Danielle Nelson is another reliable bat with a .314 batting average, 22 hits, 17 RBIs, and 20 runs scored. Kareena Ulfig and Olivia Carr are the team's top two arms each pitching at least 49 innings with at least nine appearances while sporting under a 4.90 ERA.
 
Alfred Outlook: The Saxons are 12-10 overall and 2-2 in Empire 8 play which has them fourth in the conference standings. The team topped Penn State Behrend 5-2 in its last outing on Wednesday, April 10. Alfred will clash with Buffalo State and Russell Sage before hosting Utica on Saturday, April 20. Mya Wells and Abigail Gatza lead the offense sporting at least a .444 batting average, 1.250 OPS, 28 hits, and 25 RBIS which all rank towards the top of the conference's marks. Samantha Vidal and Meghan Neto are two more reliable bats each batting over .304 this season with at least 17 hits. Megan Bennett is the team's ace with a 9-3 record, 2.19 ERA over 70.1 innings while allowing just 22 earned runs. Kendall Steward is another reliable arm with a 4.40 ERA over 41.1 innings pitched.

Up Next: The team will return home and host Oswego State on Wednesday, April 24 in a non-conference doubleheader with game one beginning at 3 p.m. and game two scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Jordyn  Conte

#2 Jordyn Conte

P
5' 6"
Graduate Student
Physical & Health Education
Cassidy Doiron

#16 Cassidy Doiron

1B
5' 7"
Sophomore
Psychology - Minor in Sociology
Emily Joss

#14 Emily Joss

INF/OF
5' 6"
Graduate Student
Physical Therapy/Psychology
Taylor Kraft

#15 Taylor Kraft

OF
5' 4"
Junior
Nursing
Kylie Murray

#8 Kylie Murray

P/INF
5' 1"
Junior
Physical Therapy
Lauren Paul

#3 Lauren Paul

UTL/INF
5' 6"
Junior
Psychology Child Life - Minor in Health Advocacy and Navigation
Maddie  Zulager

#20 Maddie Zulager

OF
5' 8"
Sophomore
Psychology
Frankie Luster

#12 Frankie Luster

INF
5' 6"
Freshman
Nursing
Jennifer Rodriguez

#13 Jennifer Rodriguez

INF
5' 6"
Freshman
Public Relations & Marketing

Players Mentioned

Jordyn  Conte

#2 Jordyn Conte

5' 6"
Graduate Student
Physical & Health Education
P
Cassidy Doiron

#16 Cassidy Doiron

5' 7"
Sophomore
Psychology - Minor in Sociology
1B
Emily Joss

#14 Emily Joss

5' 6"
Graduate Student
Physical Therapy/Psychology
INF/OF
Taylor Kraft

#15 Taylor Kraft

5' 4"
Junior
Nursing
OF
Kylie Murray

#8 Kylie Murray

5' 1"
Junior
Physical Therapy
P/INF
Lauren Paul

#3 Lauren Paul

5' 6"
Junior
Psychology Child Life - Minor in Health Advocacy and Navigation
UTL/INF
Maddie  Zulager

#20 Maddie Zulager

5' 8"
Sophomore
Psychology
OF
Frankie Luster

#12 Frankie Luster

5' 6"
Freshman
Nursing
INF
Jennifer Rodriguez

#13 Jennifer Rodriguez

5' 6"
Freshman
Public Relations & Marketing
INF