KISSIMMEE, FL - The Utica University softball team fell into the win column in each of its two games this afternoon down in Kissimmee, FL. The Pioneers defeated the North Park Vikings in its first matchup of the afternoon, 7-4 before taking down Penn State Berks 4-3 in the team's final matchup of the afternoon.
Game One: Utica 7, North Park 4
The Pioneers powered through with a dominant third inning and steady performances at the plate to secure a 7-4 victory over the North Park Viking.
Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) had an exceptional game, going 3-3 with an RBI, while Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) made her presence felt by scoring three times on a hit and a walk. Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) played a key role in Utica's scoring efforts, driving in two runs despite not recording a hit, showing great discipline at the plate with three walks. Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) contributed with an RBI single and a run scored, while Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) and Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) each added crucial offensive contributions.
Utica's offense ignited in the bottom of the third inning when Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) walked to lead things off. After back-to-back singles by Murray and Kraft loaded the bases, Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run. Scott and Sanford followed with consecutive walks to push the lead to 3-0. Little's RBI single extended the advantage, and Paul's groundout plated another run to cap off the five-run inning.
Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) earned her first collegiate win, throwing over five innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits while striking out two. Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) took over in relief, recording the save with 1.2 innings of work. She allowed three runs with two earned, but limited further damage by forcing key groundouts to stop North Park's late push.
North Park showed resilience late in the game. They chipped away with a run in the fifth and took advantage of a pair of Utica errors in the sixth to add two more. In the seventh, North Park pushed across an unearned run following a miscue in center field, but Porter settled in to induce a game-ending flyout and seal the victory.
Utica's offense capitalized on North Park's defensive struggles, scoring six of their seven runs across the second and third innings. Despite North Park outhitting the Pioneers 9-7, Utica's patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks, proved pivotal in securing the win.
Game Two: Utica, 4 Penn State Berks, 3
In game two, Sanford led the Pioneers going 2-3 with a run scored, an RBI double that put the Pioneers on the board. Little, Paul, Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College), Kraft, and Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) each recorded a hit, with Paul driving in two RBIs with her first career triple, and Beleza driving in one with a double.
In the circle, Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) got her first starting nod of the season, dealing over four innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Murray came in relief, pitching over two and two-thirds scoreless innings, crediting Murray with her first save of the season.
Sanford got the bats going early in the second inning with a double to right center that would advance runners Barbato and Kraft to put Utica on the board first in the contest.
Berks followed with run in the fourth off of a single to right field that would bring a runner in from second.
In the top of the fifth, Sanford would single to center field, allowing Little to reach on an error by the second baseman, bringing up freshman Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland). Paul would then triple to right field, bringing in both Sanford and Little to put the Pioneers ahead by three with two innings remaining.
Berks would capitalize on a fielding error by the Pioneers and a fielders choice situation to bring in two runs in the bottom of the fifth to put the Lions within one late.
The Pioneers defense would remain stout in the final two innings of the game, not allowing another Lions run to get on the board, walking away with the 4-3 victory.
Utica (4-2, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Thursday, March 13 as the team takes on St. Catherine University and Otterbein University in another doubleheader slate in Kissimmee, FL. First pitch for game one is set for 9am and game two is set for 11:30am.
