CLERMONT, FL - The Utica University softball team split its season opening pair of contests on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers opened with a 7-2 win over Lasell University, and followed up with a tightly contested 6-4 loss to Suffolk University.
Game One: Utica, 7 Lasell 2
The Pioneers put down an offensive onslaught, registering a total of 12 hits in the contest, led by freshman Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) who went 3-4 at the plate in the morning session with a pair of RBIs and the team's first home run, a solo shot to center, of the season. Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) and Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic) each managed a pair of hits, with Thompson doubling, and Waddell registering an RBI. Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater), Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks), Cassidi Mushenski (Hadley, MA/Hopkins Academy), and Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) each drove in a run as well.
In the circle, senior Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) collected her first start and win of the season, dishing out five innings with five strikeouts, only allowing one run, with zero walks. Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) made her first appearance in the circle for the Pioneers, delivering two innings with three strikeouts with zero walks, only giving up one run.
Lasell struck first in the top of the third, where a single to center field would send in a runner from second to put the Lasers ahead by one.
Utica would strike with a massive fourth inning, beginning with Resch, whose single to left field would bring Thompson across the plate for the equalizer. Resch would then cross the plate from second base after Scott singled to left. Mushenski, the next batter, would single to bring Waddell across the plate to put the Pioneers ahead by two. Hartel would then ground into the pitcher, which would bring Scott across the plate for the fourth run of the inning for the Pioneers. Strong would then bring pinch runner Lily Mazur (Rome, NY/Westmoreland) across the plate for Utica's final run of the inning, courtesy of a single to center field.
The Pioneers would strike again in the bottom of the fifth, as Waddell would single to left field, bringing Thompson across the plate for the second time in the contest, and then follow that up with the final Pioneer run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, a home run off the bat of Strong, to put the Pioneers ahead 7-1.
In the top of the seventh, Lasell would strike for the final time as an infield single would bring a runner in from third, but the trail runner would be tagged at the plate for the final out of the contest.
Game Two: Utica, 4 Suffolk 6
The Pioneers would see similar offensive production in the second contest of the day, registering a total of 14 hits. Candice Daigle (Lebanon, ME/Massabesic) led the Pioneers, going 3-4 at the plate, with an RBI double, and a run to her name. Five other Pioneers finished with a pair of hits in Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls), who registered a double and a triple, Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic) who knocked a pair of doubles, Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) and Lily Mazur (Rome, NY/Westmoreland).
Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) began her sophomore campaign in the circle with the start, delivering five innings with three strikeouts. Emily Lehane (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) came in relief for her first appearance of the season, pitching the final inning with one strikeout.
The Pioneers would strike first. After Strong tripled in the leadoff spot to right field, Paul brought her across the plate with a single to center field to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, Suffolk would manage to pile on the runs to take a 4-1 lead going into the second.
In the top of the second, Utica would strike again with an RBI double off the bat of Daigle that would bring Waddell across the plate. The Pioneers would make it a one run game as Strong would knock a sacrifice fly to right fielder, bringing Daigle aboard for the final run of the frame.
Both teams would quiet the offense, until the Rams would bring two runs across the bottom of the fourth, to take a 6-3 lead. In the top of the sixth, Utica would be able to get some momentum back in its favor, as Strong would cross the plate on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to two at 6-4. Despite registering another pair of hits in the final at-bats, the Pioneers would be unable to cash in in the final frame.
Utica (1-1, 0-0 Empire 8) returns to action on Monday, March 9 as the team takes on another Florida doubleheader. Game one against Haverford College is set for 1:30pm, and game two against North Central College is set for 3:45pm.
