UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set for a busy week filled with four games. The team begins the week opening its six-game homestand hosting Keuka College on Saturday, April 6 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and then Elmira College on Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
 
Follow Along: Those unable to attend either of the home games can tune in for live video and or stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team broke out for 50 combined runs in its doubleheader sweep of the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs on Friday, March 29. In what was the team's home opener, the Pioneers downed the Mustangs 20-4 in game one (5 Inn.) and 30-0 in game two (5 Inn.). Four Pioneers recorded two hits in the win in Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) (2-5, 3 runs, 1 RBI), Cassidy Doiron (Beacon Falls, CT/Woodland Regional) (2-4, 4 runs, 3 RBI), Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) (2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), and Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) (2-2, 2 RBI, 1 run). Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) finished tied with Doiron for the team lead with three RBI as well. Six others had one hit and RBI in the win as well. Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) earned her second win of the year as she went four innings in the circle allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit and six walks. She also struck out six Mustangs. Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional) tossed the final innings and also gave up two runs, one earned, on one hit and one walk. In game two as a team, the Pioneers combined for 30 runs on 19 hits and 16 walks. Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) had an outing for the ages with not one, but two grand slams in what was a 21-run 2nd inning for the team. The freshman went 3-for-3 in all with nine RBI, four runs scored and a walk. Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) notched three hits and drove in five runs while Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) also had three hits with four RBI. Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) and Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) had two hits apiece, Beleza doing so with two RBI, while Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) drove in four runs with a hit and three walks. In the circle, Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) earned the win after three clean innings with just one hit and walk allowed to go with three strikeouts. Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) faced just two over the minimum in her two innings of relief as her lone base runners came on a hit by pitch and an error. She had three strikeouts as well. Utica scored 21 runs in the bottom of the 2nd innings, led by a pair of grand slams by freshman sensation, Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy). Her first one cleared the center field fence with ease while her second, also hit to center field, took a one-hopper off the plastic and found its way to the other side for four more. 
 
Let's Keep the Good Times Rolling: Utica has been an offensive powerhouse this season and is the Empire 8 leader in numerous categories such as batting average (.345), runs (105), hits (118), home runs (7), RBIs (94), and sports the least amount of strikeouts at the dish with 36. In the circle the team has also been dominant leading the conference in ERA (2.71), least number of earned runs (29), while also being second in batting average against (.260). 
 
Swinging the Boom Stick: Jennifer Rodriguez (Sylmar, CA/John F. Kennedy) was named Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week after putting together an incredible two games in Utica's sweep of Morrisville on Friday, March 30. The freshman went 5-for-8 at the plate over the pair of games with three extra-base hits, 10 RBI, seven runs scored, and one walk. Rodriguez also completed the rare feat of hitting two grand slams in a single inning in the team's 30-0 game two win. In game one she went 2-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Rodriguez built off of her game one performance with a 3-for-3 outing in game two nine RBI, four runs scored and two grand slams. The grand slams came in the second inning, both clearing the center field fence, for what was a 21-run inning for the Pioneers. Her unbelievable .561 batting average currently ranks 12th in NCAA Division III and she is tied for 37th in RBIs per game with 1.25.
 
Carving 'Em Up: Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) earned her second win of the season in Utica's 30-0 game two win over SUNY Morrisville on Friday, March 30. The junior tossed three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three Mustangs. In all she faced just two over the minimum over an efficient 45 pitches.   
 
Hit Machine: Frankie Luster (Granada Hills, CA/Granada Hills Charter) has had an extraordinary start to her Pioneer career and has hit safely in 10 of 12 games including 10 of her last 11. The Granada Hills, CA native raked in the doubleheader against SUNY Morrisville going 4-for-6 with six RBIs and five runs scored while constantly being on base. 
 
Record Book Watch: Graduate student Emily Joss (South Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) continues to climb the program's all-time ranks and is just six hits shy from ranking fifth all-time. The South Glens Falls, NY native currently sits at 159 hits and is currently on pace for 190 and if she reached 200 hits she would be just the fourth player ever to accomplish that feat. Joss is already the program's all-time doubles leader and is also just eight RBIs shy of joining the 100 RBIs club.
 
Looking at Keuka: The Wolves are 2-9 this season and fell to Pitt.-Bradford 11-2 in its last outing on Thursday, March 28. Keuka will host RIT in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 3 and Alfred State College in a doubleheader on Thursday, April 4 before clashing with the Pioneers on Saturday, April 6. Hailey Jasinski is the E8's top hitter sporting a ridiculous .563 batting average with 18 hits, six doubles, 11 runs, and 10 RBIs thus far. Emily Cutrona is another reliable bat holding a .324 batting average with 12 hits, two doubles, two RBIs, and nine runs through her first 37 at bats. Olivia Flynn is the team's ace sporting a 3.99 ERA, 2-2 record, with just 15 earned runs over 26.1 innings pitched. Lauren Gilbert and Hali Jenner are two more serviceable arms with each pitching 15.1 innings this season with at least five appearances.
 
Elmira Preview: The Soaring Eagles are 4-6 this season after sweeping Wells College in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30. The team will begin an eight game road trip facing Hilbert College, Penn College, Russell Sage, and Utica University in doubleheaders this week. The team will conclude its week against Utica on Sunday, April 7. Brianna Ramstine and Olivia Roccabruna are two standout bats each batting at least .400 with the former leading the team in hits (14), doubles (2), triples (2), home runs (1), and RBIs (10). Jocelyn Jean and Katie Distefano are two more reliable bats each batting over .304 with at least seven hits and five runs scored this season. Kendall McAnelly, Cadey Wheat, Maryann Sobel are the team's most reliable arms, each racking up at least six appearances with at least 10 innings pitched this season.

Up Next: The team will wrap up its homestand against Union College on Wednesday, April 10 with game one set for 3 p.m. and game two scheduled for 5 p.m.