UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set for a massive final week of the regular season, with a seven game slate this week. On Tuesday, April 21, the team will make the short trip to take on cross-town rival SUNY Poly in a doubleheader beginning at 3pm. On Wednesday, April 22, the team returns to Oneonta, NY to finish the remainder of its contest against Hartwick from 3/31 that was abandoned due to rain. The team will then return home for its final weekend homestand, hosting Nazareth University in a doubleheader on Friday, April 24 beginning at 3pm, before hosting the St. John Fisher Cardinals on Saturday, April 25 in a doubleheader 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 Wednesday's matchup can be found here and live stats here. Live video for both weekend matchups can be found here, and live stats here. 
 
Last Time Out: The Utica University softball team delivered a dominant offensive performance over the weekend, sweeping Houghton in an Empire 8 doubleheader with 14-1 and 18-5 victories. The Pioneers combined for 32 runs and 25 hits across the two games, highlighted by grand slams from Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) and Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks), while Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) added a three-run homer in game one. Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) and Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) paced the lineup with multi-hit efforts in both contests as Utica's offense produced throughout the order. In the circle, Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) earned a complete-game win in the opener, allowing just one run on three hits, while Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) and Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) combined to secure the game two victory, with Habernig closing things out with scoreless relief. Utica jumped out early in both games and never looked back, using big innings, including a six-run seventh in game one and an 11-run sixth in game two, to seal the sweep.
 
Stellar Sluggers: Utica's offense enters the week with strong momentum, led by a quartet of Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland), Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks), Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy), and Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta), who have paired consistent season-long production with a breakout weekend at the plate. Paul has been one of the Pioneers' most dynamic all-around contributors, hitting .292 with 26 hits, 17 RBIs, and five triples while also adding eight stolen bases and a .494 slugging percentage. She elevated that production even further last week, driving in 10 runs with four extra-base hits, including her first career grand slam, and continues to be a constant threat both in the lineup and on the basepaths.Scott has provided a steady presence in the lineup, showcasing elite plate discipline with a team-high 14 walks and a .375 on-base percentage while adding 12 RBIs on the season. She turned in one of the biggest swings of the week with a grand slam in the win over Houghton. Thompson has been one of Utica's most reliable bats throughout the season, hitting .338 with 25 hits and 15 RBIs while also handling a heavy workload defensively behind the plate, where she leads the team in putouts. Her impact was felt again last week with a three-run home run that helped fuel the Pioneers' offensive surge. Hartel rounds out the group with consistent production across the board, batting .316 with 24 hits and 15 RBIs while adding three triples and contributing defensively in the infield. She played a key role in the weekend sweep with timely hitting, including a three-RBI triple that helped break the game open, and continues to be a dependable run producer throughout the lineup. 
 
A Look at Poly: The SUNY Poly Wildcats come into the matchup at 10-16 overall and 5-11 in Empire 8 play. The Wildcats are batting .275 as a team with 119 runs scored, and they've outpaced opponents in extra-base production with 44 total doubles, triples, and home runs combined. Shelbi Hagues sets the tone, leading the team in both hits (36) and runs (24). Behind her, Joely Welpe and Kelly Powell supply the power, combining for six home runs and 29 RBIs, while Annabella Mondello has been the team's most consistent run producer with 18 RBIs on the year. The Wildcats have also shown some swing-and-miss tendencies, striking out 128 times as a team. In the circle, the Wildcats have relied on a two-pitcher rotation that has handled the majority of innings. Hagues has been the most efficient option, posting a 2.80 ERA with 81 strikeouts and eight complete games, while Mondello has added a team-best 96 strikeouts and seven complete games of her own. While both arms can miss bats, control has been a factor at times, as the staff has issued 75 walks, contributing to opponents scoring 120 runs on the year.
 
Here's Hartwick: On Wednesday, the Pioneers will return to Oneonta, NY to finish the remainder of the contest against Hartwick from March 31 that was abandoned in the bottom of the third inning, with the Hawks leading 3-2, due to rain. The Hartwick Hawks return to the matchup at 3-25 overall and 2-11 in Empire 8 play, featuring an offense that has struggled to consistently generate runs but still has a handful of capable contributors throughout the lineup. Madi Hoerman has been the catalyst, hitting .329 while leading the team with 26 hits and 16 runs scored, also going a perfect 15-15 on stolen base attempts. Shannon Mentz (.283 AVG) and Mihaly Blake (.273 AVG, 3 HR) provide additional production, with Blake supplying most of the team's power at the plate with a team leading seven extra base hits. Hartwick is hitting .236 as a team with just four home runs on the season. In the circle, Hartwick has posted a 7.81 team ERA, with multiple arms seeing time throughout the season. Alana Villavicencio has been one of the primary options, logging 42.2 innings, while Ashley Hacker has handled a team-high 64.1 innings of work. The staff has struggled to limit opposing offenses, allowing a .387 batting average and 30 home runs on the year, which has contributed to opponents scoring 220 runs across 28 games.
 
Scouting Naz: The Nazareth Golden Flyers enter the matchup at 18-10 overall and 12-4 in Empire 8 play, powered by one of the most potent offenses in the conference. Nazareth is hitting an impressive .371 as a team with 289 hits and 193 RBIs, showcasing production throughout the lineup. Alexis Brown has been a standout, batting .514 with 36 hits and 30 runs scored, while Bryanna Moroughan has been a consistent run producer in the middle of the lineup, hitting .438 with 35 RBIs. Morgan Russo has provided the power presence, batting .404 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs. Kaijah Alexander has added another power element, hitting .370 with six home runs and 33 RBIs, while Haleigh Suitor has been a steady contributor, batting .368 with 25 RBIs. In the circle, Nazareth complements its offense with a strong pitching staff that owns a 3.30 team ERA while limiting opponents to a .274 batting average. Madison Hicks (8-2, 3.68 ERA), Avery Zembek (6-2, 2.97 ERA), and Amanda Linnenbrink (4-5, 3.33 ERA) headline a deep rotation that has combined for 16 complete games and five shutouts. 

Cardinal Corner: The St. John Fisher Cardinals enter the matchup as one of the top teams in the Empire 8, carrying a 22-10 overall record and a 13-3 mark in conference play behind one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Fisher is hitting .352 as a team with 336 hits and 206 RBIs, showcasing depth throughout the lineup. Sarah Gross has been a table-setter at the top, batting .470 with 55 hits and 42 runs scored, while Taylor Shackleton has been a dominant power presence, hitting .450 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. Fisher's offense combines power and efficiency, slugging .523 as a team while also maintaining a .413 on-base percentage. In the circle, Fisher backs its offense with a solid pitching staff that holds a 4.92 team ERA and has limited opponents to a .233 batting average. Molly Kuhn has been the anchor, going 8-1 with a 2.99 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 98.1 innings, including 14 complete games and four shutouts. Hallie Lorimer and CC Holmes provide additional depth, combining for nine wins and over 85 innings of work, giving the Cardinals multiple options.
 
Up Next: The Pioneers remain home to close out the regular season with a twinbill against the Russell Sage College Gators. First pitch of game one on Tuesday, April 28 is set for 4pm from Greenman Softball Field.