UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team fell in an Empire 8 doubleheader on a Friday afternoon against Nazareth University, falling 10-8 in game one after a hard-fought nine-inning contest, and losing 15-1 in game two in five innings. 

Game One: Nazareth 10, Utica 8 (9 innings)

The Pioneers put up a strong offensive performance in the first couple of innings, totaling 14 hits and putting away eight runs. Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) had a team-high three hits in game one, adding two stolen bases and crossing the plate twice, while Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) gathered two hits, two runs, and a single RBI, and Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) contributed two RBIs. 

Utica started strong, with the first score of the day coming in the first inning from Graziano's double to center field, an RBI, giving Strong a chance to cross the plate. As Strong stole second at the bottom of the second inning, Nazareth would attempt to toss out the speedy leadoff batter. However, an errant throwdown allowed Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) to make it home. Later in the inning, Hartel reached second due to an error, giving Strong the go-ahead as the freshman first basemen advanced to third, and eventually came back home on the error, making the game 3-0.
 
After a Nazareth ground-out RBI in the third, the Pioneers wouldn't score again until the fifth inning. Alexa Thompson (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) singled to right-center and advanced to second on a throw, allowing Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) to advance to third as Hartel reached via error, further increasing the Pioneers' score on the throw. Paul added another run when Madeline Waddell (Riverside, CA/Riverside Polytechnic) reached on another Nazareth miscue. Resch closed out the fifth inning with an RBI after she singled to center field, scoring Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) and making the matchup 7-1.

However, Nazareth had an offensive resurgence in the sixth inning with a two-run home run. 

The Pioneers responded after a Graziano sacrifice fly allowed Hartel to cross home in the ensuing inning. Although the Pioneers would struggle to bat in runs, after a slew of runs from Nazareth would see the Golden Flyers go on a major run. Nazareth managed two runs in the seventh to tie the game and go into extra innings. In the ninth inning, Nazareth tallied two unanswered RBIs, ending the game at 10-8. 

Game Two: Nazareth 15, Utica 1 (5 innings)

Utica put up seven hits, scoring only one run in the contest by Lauren Durfey (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) in the fifth inning. Lila Gray (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill) led the game in hits with two. Other notable Pioneers who recorded a hit include Cassidi Mushenski (Hadley, MA/Hopkins Academy), Ava Hayes (Sauquoit, NY/Notre Dame), Graziano, Waddell, and Durfey. 

Nazareth took control of game two early, crossing the plate four times in the first inning, adding a home run in the second. By the third inning, Nazareth put the game out of reach with another run and four more in the fourth. After putting away a three-run homer in the top of the fifth, Utica scored its only run of the game off a Mushenski single RBI with the bases loaded, advancing all runners and Durfey crossing the plate. 

Utica (15-17, 10-8 Empire 8) returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 25th, as the team will play at home again to take on St. John Fisher in another Empire 8 doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 10 am at Greenman Field.