CLERMONT, FL - The Utica University softball team finished its spring break slate with a pair of wins to cap the week spent in the Sunshine State. The Pioneers took the first game of the day by a score of 3-2 over Westminster College, before taking the second game by a core of 5-4 over Western New England.

​​Game One: Utica, 3 Westminster 2

The Pioneers and Titans played through four scoreless innings before Utica's offense found its rhythm in the middle frames. Utica finished with six hits in the contest, led by Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater), who went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Cassidi Mushenski (Hadley, MA/Hopkins Academy) added a hit and drove in two runs, while Candice Daigle (Lebanon, ME/Massabesic) and Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) each recorded a hit in the victory. Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) also chipped in offensively with a double. 

Senior Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) delivered a complete-game performance in the circle, earning the win after pitching all seven innings. Habernig allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out six and working through six walks to secure her second victory of the season. 

After a quiet opening four innings, Utica broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Resch singled and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Mushenski, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

Utica extended its advantage in the sixth inning. Thompson singled to begin the frame, followed by a base hit from Daigle. Resch delivered again with an RBI single to score Daigle, and Mushenski followed with another run-scoring single to push the Pioneer lead to 3-0.

Westminster attempted a late comeback in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on a sacrifice fly, but Habernig closed the door with the tying run left aboard to secure the one-run victory. 

Game Two: Utica, 5 Western New England 4

The Pioneers continued their strong play in the second contest, holding off Western New England in a back-and-forth matchup to secure the sweep. Utica again tallied six hits, with Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) leading the way with a 2-for-3 performance including a double and two runs scored. Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) and Lily Mazur (Rome, NY/Westmoreland) each drove in a run, while Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic) added hits in the win. 

In the circle, Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) made the start, before Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) entered in relief and earned the win with three innings of work. Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) closed the game, pitching the final innings to secure the 5-4 victory for the Pioneers.

Utica jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning as Paul singled and later scored alongside Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) following a defensive miscue by Western New England. The Pioneers added another run in the second when Resch scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.

Western New England responded with four runs in the third inning to take its first lead of the contest, but the Pioneers answered immediately. In the fourth, Scott delivered an RBI single to center field to bring Resch home and tie the game at 4-4. 

Utica regained the lead in the sixth inning. After Waddell reached base, pinch runner Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) stole second and third before Mazur singled to first base to bring Durfey across for the go-ahead run. 

Utica (3-7, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to the Empire State with a doubleheader against RPI on Saturday, March 21. First pitch of game one from Troy, NY is set for 1pm.