UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team clashed with the SUNY Poly Wildcats on Wednesday evening for the final time as non-conference opponents. The Pioneers claimed both games with a walk-off, 3-2 win in game one before taking the second game in five innings, 12-4.
Game 1: Utica 3, SUNY Poly 2
Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) delivered the game-winning base hit in the 7th inning to extend her hitting streak to 15 games.
Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) and
Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) had Utica's other two hits in the game while Little,
Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) and
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) scored the three runs. Joss also stole three bases in the win.
Jordyn Conte (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley High School) started in the circle for the Pioneers and pitched a no decision. The graduate student hurled 73 pitches over six frames allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five.
Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) earned her first win of the season thanks to a clean 7th inning giving up no runs on no hits. She allowed one baserunner via hit by pitch and struck out one.
Utica had a chance to tack on some runs early as the team had the bases loaded with two away. With a full count, Poly starter Trinity Critelli retired Doiron on strikes to escape the jam. Critelli threw the whole game for the Wildcats, allowing one earned run on three hits, five walks and striking out 10.
The Pioneers made up for their empty 1st with the first run of the game in the 2nd. With the first two batters gone, Little started a rally with a base hit which was followed by a Joss walk. Luster then hit a routine ball to shortstop that was misplayed and allowed Little to come home from second.
Conte and Critelli resumed the pitcher's duel after that lone run. The two cruised through the 5th inning as the game entered the 6th with Utica holding on to a 1-0 advantage. Over the middle innings, Conte faced just one over the minimum with two hits allowed. One of those hits was a triple to right field; however, the runner attempted to score and tie the game on an overthrow to third but was called out at home on Conte's throw to Little.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game in the top of the 6th on one swing. With two outs and a runner on, Kimberly Birmingham took a 3-1 pitch over the center field fence for a 2-1 lead. Utica got one run back in the bottom of the 6th when Doiron reached on a fielding error by the right fielder and came around to score on the same play.
In the 7th, Habernig hit the first batter she saw while a sacrifice bunt moved the baserunner to second. After striking out the next batter, the runner from second attempted to take third but was thrown out by Little to go into the bottom of the 7th.
With Joss on third and Luster on second, Rodriguez stepped in with a chance to win the game with two outs. The freshman went opposite field and dunked the ball into shallow left-center field to send Joss home and walk-off game one.
Game 2: Utica 12, SUNY Poly 4 (5 Inn.)
The Pioneers scored 12 runs on 14 hits in the game two win.
Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) extended her hitting streak to 16 straight games after a 2-for-4 effort with a home run.
Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) also went yard in the game, going 3-for-4 in all with three RBI and two runs scored.
Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) (2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 runs),
Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (2-for-3, 2B, 1 run) and
Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 Runs) finished with multi-hit games as well.
Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) went all five innings in the winning effort allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three.
Poly jumped on Murray early for a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st. The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs and scored two on a double by Kelly Powell. Murray walked the next batter to load the bases again but got out of the half inning with a strikeout. The Pioneers got one back in the bottom half thanks to a
Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) sacrifice fly.
Utica put up three runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take a 4-2 lead. Sacks led off the inning with a solo home run, her first of the season, to left-center field that tied the game while Little and
Maddie Zulager (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) later drove in runs as well.
The teams went scoreless over the 3rd and 4th innings until Poly tied the game in the top of the 5th on a two-out, two-RBI single.
With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 5th, the Pioneers would score eight runs to end the game early via run rule.
Rodriguez opened the inning with a solo home run to regain the lead for what was her fourth long ball of the year.
Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) (two),
Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) (one), Little (one), Zulager (one) drove in runs to make it 10-2 while Sacks delivered the game-ending two-RBI single with two outs.
Utica (15-7, 4-0 Empire 8) will remain home and return to league play on Friday when the team welcomes Houghton University. Game one of the twin bill is set for 3 p.m.
