ROCHESTER, NY - The Utica University softball team collected its sixth series sweep of the season over the Nazareth University Golden Flyers on Friday afternoon, taking game one 5-3, before taking game two 14-7. 

Game One: Utica, 5 Nazareth, 3

Leading the way for Utica was Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs), who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a towering two-run home run in the third inning. Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) made her presence felt early, going 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double and a walk. Brooke Beleza (Amherstview, Ontario/Jefferson Community College) added a single and came around to score in the fifth. Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) recorded her eighth win of the season with a complete game, allowing three earned runs on four hits while striking out five in seven innings of work.

Utica broke through in the third after a pair of singles from Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) and Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) set the table. With two outs, Paul ripped a double to right field to plate both runners and open the scoring. Moments later, Little followed with a deep drive over the fence in center for a two-run homer, putting the Pioneers up 4-0.

Nazareth responded in the bottom of the fourth. After a hit-by-pitch to start the frame, Kelsey Alexander launched a two-run home run to left to cut the deficit in half. A double and a sacrifice fly brought in a third run, tightening the score to 4-3.

Utica answered right back in the fifth. Beleza singled up the middle and moved into scoring position on a walk to Paul. Little delivered again, singling to center to bring home Beleza and extend the lead to 5-3.

From there, Murray settled in and retired nine of the final eleven batters she faced, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning to shut the door. Utica's defense was sharp behind her, and the Pioneers held firm to secure the 5-3 road win over Nazareth.

Game Two: Utica, 14 Nazareth 7

Leading the way for Utica game two was Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs), who continued her red-hot bat with a 2-for-4 day, driving in four runs with a pair of doubles and a walk. Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also had a standout performance at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a triple, four runs scored, and an RBI. Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) was clutch in the middle of the order, collecting two hits, two RBIs, and scoring twice. Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) went 1-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in Utica's six-run third. In the circle, Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) earned the win, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing seven earned runs on 13 hits, while Kelly Thornton (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley Regional) shut things down over the final 2.2 innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed.

After falling behind 2-1 in the first on a two-run homer from Nazareth, the Pioneers responded with a six-run second inning. Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) sparked the rally with a single and later scored on a passed ball. With the bases loaded, Paul drew a walk to tie the game, and Little blew it open with a three-run double to right center. Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) reaching on a fielder's choice with runners in scoring position capped the inning to give Utica a 7-2 lead.

Utica piled on six more runs in the third, kicked off by an RBI single from Beleza and another base knock from Paul. After a defensive miscue loaded the bases, Sacks delivered a two-run single to right. Little came home on a sac fly, and Scott added a two-RBI single to center to make it 13-2.

Nazareth chipped away with runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, including a sac fly and a two-RBI single, narrowing the gap to 13-7. Thornton came in to relieve Habernig and quickly shut the door, striking out five and allowing just one hit over the final three frames.

Utica added one more in the sixth when Paul tripled and scored on an error, making it 14-7. The Pioneers' defense was sharp down the stretch, and Thornton struck out the side between the sixth and seventh innings to seal Utica's second win of the day.

Utica (20-8, 15-3 Empire 8) heads into a rematch of last season's Empire 8 Conference title game with the St. John Fisher Cardinals tomorrow, Saturday, April 26. First pitch of game one from Rochester, NY is set for 1pm.