KISSIMMEE, FL - The Utica University softball team split its final day of the team's Sunshine State slate on Friday afternoon. The team fell in its first game against Saint Mary's by a score of 14-6 before taking a come from behind win against Lasell, 10-9.
Game One: Utica, 6 Saint Mary's, 14
Leading the way for the Pioneers was Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College), Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), and Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack), who each went 2-3 with Beleza driving in two RBIs. Sanford, Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey), and Lily Mazur (Rome, NY/Westmoreland) each brought in an RBI, with Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) and Cassidi Mushenski (Hadley, MA/Hopkins Academy) each recording a hit.
Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) got the starting nod, dealing two innings, allowing six runs on three hits. Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) came in relief, allowing five runs on four hits, while Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) came in to deal the final two innings, allowing three runs on three hits.
Saint Mary's would get on the board first in the first inning, bringing in four runs on some defensive miscues by the Pioneers. The Pioneers would put one on the board after a single by Sanford to left center would bring in Barbato to cut the deficit to three in the top of the second inning.
A six run fourth inning by Saint Mary's would put the Belles ahead by 10. Utica would attempt a comeback with runs coming in off the bats of Lehane, Beleza, Mazur, and Barbato, cutting the deficit to six in the fifth inning.
Two runs in the sixth would give the Belles the win by a score of 14-6.
Game Two: Utica 10, Lasell, 9
The Pioneers rallied back from a six-run deficit to earn a thrilling 10-9 victory over Lasell University on Friday afternoon.
Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) led the offensive charge, going 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Lily Mazur (Rome, NY/Westmoreland) finished 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) added two RBIs, while Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) contributed two hits, two runs, and an RBI.
Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional) got the start in the circle, pitching 3.1 innings before Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) took over in relief. Porter earned her first collegiate win, throwing 3.2 innings with four strikeouts while allowing just two hits and no earned runs.
Lasell built a commanding 6-0 lead after four innings, taking advantage of timely hitting and a pair of Pioneer defensive miscues. Utica broke through in the bottom of the fifth when Mazur and Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) reached base before Sanford's RBI single put the Pioneers on the board. Lehane followed with an RBI knock before Murray added an RBI single to cap a four-run inning.
The Pioneers stormed ahead with a six-run sixth inning. Lehane singled home a run to trim the deficit to one before Murray walked with the bases loaded to tie the game at 6-6. Utica continued to capitalize on Lasell's struggles, with a hit-by-pitch and walk driving in two more runs. Mazur capped the rally with a two-RBI single to give the Pioneers a 10-6 lead.
Lasell mounted a late push in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on a pair of errors and an RBI double to cut the lead to one. With the tying run on base, Porter locked in and induced a pop-out to secure the comeback victory for Utica.
Utica (5-5, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to the Mohawk Valley to open the team's home slate, in its final home non-conference doubleheader against RPI on March 22. First pitch from Greenman Softball Field is set for 1pm.
