UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set for a full week of conference doubleheaders. The team will host Russell Sage on Tuesday, April 14 beginning at 3pm from Greenman Field, before hitting the road for a pair road matchups with Alfred on Friday, April 17 beginning at 3pm, and Houghton on Saturday, April 18 beginning at 1pm. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for Tuesday's matchups can be found here, and live stats here. Live video for Friday's matchups 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 team split its doubleheader against SUNY Brockport, dropping game one 9-6 before bouncing back with a 9-1 win in game two. In the opener, Utica totaled 13 hits, led by Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) with three, while Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane), Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls), Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic), and Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) each added two. The Pioneers jumped out early but Brockport used a big middle innings surge to take control, holding off a late Utica push. Utica responded in game two with 11 hits in a dominant effort. Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) went a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Lila Gray (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill) drove in five runs, including a three-run homer. Graziano was strong in the circle, tossing a complete game and allowing just one run on two hits to secure the win.
 
Freshman Phenom: Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) put together a dominant all-around weekend, leading the Pioneers both at the plate and in the circle across a 2-2 week. At the plate, Graziano was one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup, batting .571 (8-for-14) with five runs scored, five RBIs, two doubles, and a home run. She slugged .929 and reached base at a .571 rate, totaling 13 bases while recording at least one hit in every game of the four-game slate. Graziano's impact extended into the circle, where she earned two wins in relief, going a perfect 2-0 with a 2.80 ERA over 10.0 innings. She allowed just four earned runs on nine hits while striking out six and holding opposing hitters to a strong 1.20 WHIP. Highlighting her weekend, Graziano tossed a five-inning starting effort in an 11-6 win over Geneseo, allowing just five runs while striking out four, before returning to secure another win against Brockport, surrendering just one run over a complete five innings in a 9-1 victory.
 
Scouting Sage: Russell Sage enters the matchup with a 12-12 overall record and a 5-5 mark in conference play. As a team, the Gators are hitting .285 with 103 runs on 173 hits, driving in 84 RBIs. They've shown patience at the plate with 70 walks and have been aggressive on the bases with 32 stolen bags. Leading the offense is Emma Heartquist, who is batting a team-best .439 through 57 at-bats. She has tallied 25 hits while posting a .458 on-base percentage and adding speed on the basepaths with four stolen bases. Annalise Tyler has also been a key contributor, hitting .408 with a team-high 20 runs scored and 29 hits, including six extra-base hits. Bella Julian (.333) and Izabelle Ratcliffe (.323) provide additional depth in the lineup, with Ratcliffe leading the team in on-base percentage at .470 and drawing 10 walks while also driving in 10 runs. Katie Call adds power to the middle of the order, tying for the team lead with 10 RBIs while collecting four doubles. In the circle, the Gators are led by Annabella Putnam, who holds a 2.96 ERA with a 4-4 record across 56.2 innings. Putnam has been effective at limiting opposing hitters, holding them to a .195 batting average while striking out a team-high 65 batters. Bailey Catlin has also been solid, posting a 2.41 ERA with five wins and six complete games in 52.1 innings of work. As a staff, Russell Sage carries a 3.69 ERA with 141 strikeouts across 148 innings, showing the ability to miss bats while mixing multiple arms throughout a series.
 
A Look At Alfred: Alfred enters the matchup with a 12-10 overall record and a 6-4 mark in conference play. The Saxons have been one of the more potent offenses in the league, hitting .341 as a team with 154 runs on 209 hits, driving in 141 RBIs. They combine power and speed, totaling 27 home runs and 56 stolen bases while posting a .569 slugging percentage. The lineup is headlined by Samantha Vidal, who is batting .434 with a team-high 33 hits while also scoring 26 runs and swiping 27 bases. Brielle Wark has also been highly efficient at the plate, hitting .420 with seven doubles and two home runs, while Kendall Steward adds both power and production with a .408 average, six home runs, and 21 RBIs. Molly Whitmyer anchors the middle of the order, leading the team with 30 RBIs while hitting .400 with seven home runs and a team-best .814 slugging percentage. Bella Mistretta provides additional run production with 22 RBIs and eight doubles, while Ally Boulger contributes power with five home runs and 15 RBIs. In the circle, Ava Galvan leads the staff with a 4.32 ERA and a 5-2 record across 56.2 innings, while Kendall Steward has also logged significant time with 54.1 innings and five wins. As a staff, the Saxons carry a 5.69 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .352,
 
Here's Houghton: Houghton enters the matchup with a 4-12 overall record and a 1-7 mark in conference play. As a team, the Highlanders are hitting .207 with 43 runs on 79 hits, driving in 40 RBIs. They have struggled to generate consistent offense and power, posting just three home runs and a .270 slugging percentage on the season. Kelley Burnett leads the offense with a .310 average, collecting 13 hits while adding four doubles and six RBIs. Hannah Fish has also been a steady presence at the plate, batting .308 with 12 hits and a home run, while Kareena Ulfig contributes in multiple ways, hitting .255 with a team-high eight RBIs. Adelynn Killian (.250) and Maggie Zastrow (.231) provide some additional depth, with Zastrow adding one of the team's three home runs. Overall, the lineup has had difficulty sustaining rallies, reflected in a .291 team on-base percentage and 93 strikeouts across 16 games. In the circle, Ulfig has logged the most innings, posting a 4.79 ERA across 64.1 innings while striking out 33. However, as a staff, Houghton carries a 7.45 ERA, allowing opponents to hit .374 and score 142 runs.
 
Up Next: The team remains on the road, making the cross-town trip to take on SUNY Poly in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one on Tuesday, April 21 is set for 3pm.