UTICA, NY - The Utica University women's softball team is set to finish its non-conference schedule, and begin conference play this week. On Wednesday, March 25 the team will make the short trip to take on the Hamilton College Continentals in the team's final non-conference doubleheader, with the first pitch of game one set for 3pm from Clinton, NY. On Saturday, March 28th, the team will travel to take on the Hartwick College Hawks in the team's conference opener, with the first pitch of game one set for 2pm from Oneonta, NY. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Wednesday's matchup can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Saturday's matchups can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The Pioneers dropped both games of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, falling 5-0 in the opener and 9-2 in game two. In game one, Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) each recorded a hit, with Paul delivering the team's lone extra-base hit on her fourth triple of the season. Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) earned the start in the circle, striking out two over four innings, while Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) added two strikeouts in relief. In the second game, five different Pioneers registered hits, including Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls), Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic), Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater), Graziano, and Lila Gray (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill), with Waddell and Gray each driving in a run. Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) got the start, striking out two over 2.2 innings, followed by solid relief efforts from Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) and Graziano to close out the contest.
 
Where We Stand: With conference play beginning this week, the Pioneer lineup finds itself in the middle of the pack in the Empire 8 with a combined team batting average of .276. The Pioneers have managed the second most hits in the conference with a total of 91 through 330 at bats, with a total of 24 extra base hits. Utica leads the conference in triples with a total of 10, and are tied for fourth in the conference in doubles with 13. Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) currently holds first place in triples with five and fourth place for runs at 13. Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) has the most at-bats with 43 and holds second for triples with four. Pitcher Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) started the most games in the conference with six and holds fifth place for strikeouts with 20. 
 
Continental Compass: The Hamilton Continentals are 5-5 coming into this matchup against the Pioneers. The Continentals combine for an average of .330 at the plate, scoring 53 runs off of 95 hits, driving in 44 RBIs. Starting all ten games for the Continentals, Nikki Dyche managed an average of .471 across 34 at-bats, racking up seven runs, putting the bat to ball 16 times, and leading the team in RBIs with seven and three doubles. Dyche currently also leads the team with a 1.014 OPS. Hadley Rogers, who also started ten games for the Continentals, established an average of .367 through 30 at-bats, bagging four runs, hitting 11 with six RBIs. Miranda Mosqeuda, who started all eight games for the Continentals, posted a .407 average, leading the team in runs with nine from 11 hits and tallying six RBIs. Mosqueuda is patient on the plate, taking four walks. In the circle, Yael Everett holds a 3.66 ERA, allowing 20 runs off 32 hits. Lauren Farace holds a significant 2.30 ERA and a WHIP floated around 1.0. In one start and six appearances, Farace arranged a 2-1 record, allowing ten runs on 16 hits, striking out six and walking ten. With 21.1 innings pitched, Farace is the primary relief pitcher for the Continentals. 
 
Eyes on the Hawks: The Harwick Hawks start the week at 1-9. In their second season since the program's inception, the Hawks have a combined .268 average, securing 31 runs and putting the bat on the ball 67 times. Starting all ten games, Alicea Seitzinger posted a .379 average, crossing the plate four times from 11 hits, leading the team in RBIs with six. At nine starts, Madi Hoerman leads the team with a .464 average, running back home six times from 13 hits, one double, two RBIs, and keeping a .500 slugging average. Of the rubber, Alana Villavicencio holds an 8.04 ERA and posted a 2.36 WHIP, allowing 20 runs off of 25 hits, striking out six, and walking 12. 
 
Up Next: The team remains on the road, traveling to take on the Elmira College Soaring Eagles on Friday, April 3. First pitch of game one is set for 2pm from Elmira, NY.