GENESEO, NY - The Utica University softball team split its Empire 8 Conference series against conference newcomer SUNY Geneseo on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one in decisive 8-0 fashion, before falling in game two 12-3. 

Game One: Utica, 8 Geneseo, 0

Dealing her first career no-hitter, pitcher Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) netted her third win of the season after tossing five no-hit innings, not giving up a walk, and striking out six of the 16 batters faced in the contest. Leading the Pioneers at the plate was Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) and Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) with Kraft going 2-3 with three RBIs, and Little going 3-3 with an RBI. Megan Paul and Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) each drove in a run as well. 

The Pioneers would break the ice in the top of the first inning when Little would double to right center, bringing in Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) for the first run of the inning. Kraft would then single to first base and bring in Little to extend the lead to 2-0. Lehane would then single down the third base line to bring in Kraft to bring the score to 3-0. 

Three up and three down from Murray in the bottom of the first would send the Pioneers up to bat in the top of the second with a comfortable lead, allowing Paul to single up the middle and bring in Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) to bring the Pioneer lead to four. With the bases loaded, Kraft would reach base on an error by the second baseman, advancing the runners Paul and Little, who would score on the error, bringing the Pioneer lead to 6-0. 

In the top of the fourth, with runners in scoring position, Kraft put bat to ball for a two-RBI single to left field bringing in Little and Paul to bring the score to 8-0 in favor of Utica. Geneseo would be unable to get a runner on base for the remainder of the contest, letting the Pioneers come away with the victory 8-0. 

Game Two: Utica, 3 Geneseo 12

Little once again led the Pioneers in game two, going 2-3 with an RBI. Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) and Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) each drove in a run as well. Lucia Gargiulo (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) got the starting nod in the circle, dishing two innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) came in relief, facing five batters in the top of the third, giving up five runs on three hits, before Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) took over, giving up five runs on four hits. Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) pitched the final inning, only giving up one hit. 

Geneseo would strike first in the bottom of the first inning with a two-RBI single to left field, heading into the second inning with a 2-0 lead. 

Utica would break the ice in the top of the third inning with Beleza singling to right field, bringing in Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck), putting the Pioneers on the board, 2-1. 

A massive 10 run inning for the Knights in the bottom of the third would put the Pioneers on ice until the top of the fifth inning when Little would single to center field, and an error by the center fielder would advance the runners, bringing in Beleza to get a run on the board for Utica. Sacks would crack a sacrifice fly to the right fielder, bringing in Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) from third to bring the score of 12-3. The Pioneer offense would be unable to close the gap any further, allowing the Knights the win at 12-3. 

Utica (8-6, 3-1 Empire 8) continues its road trip tomorrow, Sunday, April 13 as the team takes on another conference newcomer in SUNY Brockport. First pitch of game one from Brockport, NY is set for 1pm.