UTICA, NY - The Utica University softball team is set for its final regular season series this week. On Tuesday, April 28, the team will host the Russell Sage College Gators in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 4pm from Greenman Field. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Last Time Out: The team dropped both ends of an Empire 8 doubleheader to St. John Fisher on Saturday, falling 4-1 in game one and 8-4 in game two. The Pioneers were limited to four hits in the opener, with Eden Resch (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater) driving in the lone run, while Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) went the distance in the circle. In game two, Utica showed more offensive production with nine hits, led by Kari Graziano's (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) three-hit, two-RBI performance and multi-hit efforts from Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) and Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls). Despite a late push, the Pioneers were unable to overcome Fisher's early surge in the second game.
 
Where We Stand: With the Empire 8 postseason picture coming into focus, Utica remains in the mix for multiple seeding outcomes heading into the final stretch. Utica currently sits in sixth place in the Empire 8 standings, with room to move up as the regular season comes to a close. To get to the #5 seed, the Pioneers must sweep Russell Sage to reach 12-10 in conference play, and would then need SUNY Brockport to drop at least three of its final four games to move up the standings. If that were to happen, Utica would earn a home first-round game as the five seed. 
 
If Utica does secure the #5 seed, the opening round opponent will come from a tight race for the #8 seed, currently between SUNY Poly, Elmira, and Keuka. SUNY Poly has completed its conference schedule at 6-16 and is waiting on results elsewhere, while Elmira has four league games remaining against Houghton and Hartwick, giving the Soaring Eagles the clearest path to claim the final spot with even a modest finish. Keuka remains in the mix as well, needing a sweep of Russell Sage along with Elmira struggling down the stretch to force its way into contention. As it stands, Elmira controls its own destiny and could secure the #8 seed with a couple of wins, while Poly likely gets in if Elmira falters. Keuka would need the most help, requiring both a sweep and favorable results elsewhere to jump into the field.
 
The likely scenario, is a 6–7 first-round matchup, which could feature either SUNY Brockport or Russell Sage. If the Pioneers finish 12-10, they are in strong position to host as the six seed, with either Brockport or Sage potentially sliding into the seven depending on how those teams close. A Brockport stumble could drop the Golden Eagles into that spot, while a strong finish from Sage could push them into the matchup instead. If Utica finishes 11-11, the situation becomes more complex, with multiple teams potentially tied and seeding determined by conference tiebreakers. Should Utica fall to 10-12, the Pioneers would likely be the #7 seed and head on the road for the opening round, most likely traveling to Brockport or Russell Sage.
 
A Look at Sage: Russell Sage enters the matchup as one of the more balanced teams in the Empire 8, sitting at 16-16 overall and 9-7 in conference play. The Gators feature a steady offensive attack, hitting .281 as a team with five regular contributors batting above .300, led by Annalise Tyler (.389) and Emma Heartquist (.380), who set the tone at the top of the lineup. Izabelle Ratcliffe (.324, .489 OBP) adds another tough out in the middle, while Carmela DeMaio (.317) and Bella Julian (.329) provide depth throughout the order. Sage does not rely heavily on the long ball, with just one home run as a team, but consistently manufactures offense, totaling 224 hits and 134 runs scored on the year. In the circle, the Gators are anchored by a reliable two-pitcher rotation. Bailey Catlin leads the staff with a 2.59 ERA and seven wins, while Annabella Putnam has logged the most innings with 80.2 frames, posting a 3.04 ERA and a team-best 85 strikeouts. Together, the duo has handled the bulk of the workload and kept Sage competitive, contributing to a team ERA of 3.75.
 
Up Next: The Pioneers await their fate in the 2026 Empire 8 Softball Tournament. More information regarding the playoff will be announced if and when available.