UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team collected its seventh series sweep of the season in its regular season finale over the Keuka College Wolves on Wednesday afternoon. The Pioneers took game one by a score of 7-2, before piling on the runs in game two 17-5. 
 
Game One: Utica, 7 Keuka 2
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers in game one was Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie), who delivered a 3-4 performance at the plate, tallying three RBIs with her third home run of the season, and two singles. Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) continued her dominance, going 2-4 with a two-run home run, a double, and also swiping a base, Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) added a double and later a triple to her stat line, finishing 2-4 with two runs scored. Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker) added her own three hit performance while crossing the plate twitch, while Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) chipped in with a two-run homer of her own on the afternoon. Kylie Murray (Eastchester, NY/Eastchester) put together another dominant performance, earning the complete game win with seven strikeouts and just four hits allowed over her seven innings of work. 
 
Utica jumped ahead early in the bottom of the first. After Paul doubled to left, Sacks delivered a two-out RBI single to right field to make it 1-0. 
 
Keuka tied things in the top of the third when a single would being a runner across on an error for the Wolves. The Pioneers would respond in the bottom of the frame, with a lead off double from Little that would score on Sacks' second RBI single of the day, making it 2-1 in favor of the Pioneers. 
 
Keuka would tie the game at two a side in the top of the fourth with a solo home run to left field, but the Pioneers would quickly respond. In the bottom of the frame, Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) would triple to right and would be followed up by Little, who would blast a two run homer over the left field fence to put the Pioneers ahead at 4-2. 
 
The fifth inning would see the Pioneers tack on some insurance runs as Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) would mash a two-run shot to left that would score herself and Kraft. The Pioneers would be able to get more runners into scoring position but would be unable to capitalize any further.
 
Sacks would cap her big outing with a solo shot to center in the sixth inning that would put the Pioneers ahead by five at 7-2.  Murray would command the top of the seventh for the Pioneers, retiring the side in order in the frame, allowing the Pioneers to hold on to the 7-2 win. 
 
Game Two: Utica 17, Keuka 5
 
Leading the way for the Pioneers in game two was Erica Sanford (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) who exploded at the plate, going a perfect 3-3, driving in three runs, scoring three times, and launching a three-run home run in the fourth. Rachel Little (Burbank, CA/John Burroughs) continued her tear, going 3-4 with a three run blast in the third and an RBI single. Abigail Sacks (Colonie, NY/Colonie) continued her dominance as well, going 2-4 with a three run homer and three RBIs. Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) contributed with two hits, including a two-RBI single, while Alyssa Barbato (Rhinebeck, NY/Rhinebeck) was a perfect 3-3 and crossed the plate three times. Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) also got in on the surge with a solo shot in the fourth, and Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) added a 2-3 effort with an RBI and two runs scored. In the circle, Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) collected the starting nod but would run into trouble. Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) would come in relief and was lights out, striking out five over her 3.1 innings of work to earn the win while only giving up one run. 
 
After falling behind 4-0 in the top of the second, the Pioneers responded in a big way with a seven-run bottom half of the frame. Taylor Kraft (Loudonville, NY/Shaker), Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Barbato would open the frame with three straight singles, the last of which plated Kraft. Paul scored on a passed ball to make it 4-2, then Barbato would come home on an error after Scott reached base. Sanford would bunt to load the bases and Emily Lehan would draw a walk to bring in a run. With the bases still loaded, Paul drove a single through the left side that would score two and tie the game. Moments later, Little would advance on a passed ball, and then come home along with two others on a towering three-run shot from Sacks to give the Pioneers a 7-4 lead heading into the third inning. 
 
The Pioneers piled on six more in the third inning. After Barbato, Scott, and Sanford singled to load the bases again, Lehane would draw another bases-loaded walk. Paul would follow with a two-RBI single and after a pitching change, Little would crush a three run home run to left that would extend the Pioneer lead to 13-4. 
 
In the fourth, Lauren Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) would lead off with a solo home run, and Barbato and Scott would once again reach on back-to-back singles. Sanford would blast the three-run dagger, for Utica's fourth long ball of the day, and a 17-4 advantage. 
 
Porter would only allow one run in the top of the fifth, and halt the Wolves from mounting any type of comeback, holding on for the 17-5 dominant win. 
 
Utica (22-10, 17-5 Empire 8) will now set its sights on the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, beginning next week. More information will be released as it is available.