UTICA, NY - For the first time this season, the Utica University softball team will take to Greenman Field for a weekend homestand. On Friday, April 10, the team welcomes SUNY Brockport for a doubleheader beginning at 3pm, before welcoming SUNY Geneseo for a doubleheader beginning at 1pm on Saturday, April 11 as the team celebrates Senior Day.
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video for both matchups can be found here, and live stats here.
Senior Day: During Saturday's doubleheader against Geneseo, the softball program would like to honor its lone senior
Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) for her contributions to the program.
Last Time Out: The team split a doubleheader at Keuka College, dropping the opener 7-2 before rallying for a 7-6 win in game two. In the first contest, the Pioneers were limited to three hits, with
Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) driving in a run and
Ava Hayes (Sauquoit, NY/Notre Dame) adding a double, while
Caroline Porter (Chittenango, NY/Chittenango) struck out three over 4.2 innings. Utica responded in game two with nine hits, led by Strong's 2-for-4 effort with a triple and two RBIs, tying the program's single-season triples record.
Kadyn Hartel (West Henrietta, NY/Rush Henrietta) added two hits and two runs, while
Alexis Scott (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Forks) delivered a key two-run double. In the circle,
Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) went the distance with six strikeouts, settling in after a five-run inning to keep Keuka scoreless over the final four frames as Utica erased an early deficit and took the lead for good on Strong's RBI triple in the sixth.
Dealer's Choice: Senior
Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) delivered a dominant week in the circle for the Pioneers, anchoring a 4-1 stretch in the team's first full week of conference play with two complete-game performances and a pair of victories. Across 17.1 innings of work, Habernig posted a 2-0 record while striking out an impressive 25 batters, averaging over 10 strikeouts per seven innings. She limited opposing hitters to just an .174 batting average while maintaining a 2.02 ERA and an impressive 1.04 WHIP. Habernig's week was highlighted by a standout extra-inning performance against Elmira, where she went the distance, pitching 10.1 innings, allowing just two runs while racking up 19 strikeouts in a 3-2 victory.
Empire 8 Standings: As of today, the Pioneer lineup stands at the top of the conference, sitting in third place in the standings with a 4-1 conference record. The orange and blue present a middle-of-the-pack batting average of .261. Through 556 at-bats, the Pioneers managed a total of 145 hits, securing 83 runs, with 68 of those runs being RBIs. Utica holds the lead in triples in the Empire 8 with 12, and is in fifth place for doubles at 21.
Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls) occupies first place in triples with six, tying the single-season triples record, and fourth for runs scored at 19.
Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) spots third in triples, with four, and fourth in stolen bases at seven. Both Strong and Paul are tied for the most at-bats with 69. Lone senior
Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston) pitched second most in conference with 63.1 innings and currently leads the Empire 8 with 66 strikeouts and 18 strikeout looks. Habernig also allowed only one home run.
Breaking Down Brockport: The Brockport Golden Eagles are entering this Friday's doubleheader with a 6-8 record and a 4-0 record in conference play. The Golden Eagles have a combined team average of .246, scoring 54 runs off of 86 hits and driving in 51 RBIs. Starting all 14 games for the Eagles, Caitlyn Dailey managed a .293 average over 41 at-bats, putting bat-to-ball 12 times and leading the team in RBIs with 10. Dailey has posted a .728 OPS and has been patient at the plate, drawing three walks. Paige Wentland leads the team with an average of .300 through 30 at-bats, making contact nine times and crossing the plate twice. In the circle, Liana DeValder posted a 2.14 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Appearing in nine games and starting for four with three complete games under her belt, DeValder has pitched 39.1 innings, allowing 21 runs, with only 12 being earned, from 37 hits and nine walks. Pitching 151 at-bats, she leads the team in strikeouts with 44 and holds a 3-2 overall record.
A Look at Geneseo: The Geneseo Knights enter this weekend's doubleheader with a 10-7 record and a 3-1 conference record. In the batter's box, the Knights have a combined .296 average, tallying 86 runs, putting bat to ball 144 times. Starting 16 games for the Knights, Brooke Fraas leads the team with a .390 average, with 23 hits, coming home 14 times, gathering eight RBIs, and hitting one out of the park. With 15 starts and 49 at-bats, Lauren Babich has posted a .388 average and a 1.059 OPS, hitting 19 and securing 10 runs, and leads the team in RBIs with 17 and a .633 slugging percentage. Off the rubber, Nevaeh Ross posts a 3.25 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. With nine appearances and seven starts, Ross has allowed 28 runs from 65 hits, zero home runs, struck out 30, and holds a 3-2 overall record. Starting in seven games and appearing in nine, Gabriella Petroski managed a 5.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Pitching 44.1 innings, Petroski allowed 36 runs off 54 hits, walking six and striking out a team leading 38.
Up Next: The team remains home to take on the Russell Sage College Gators in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 14. First pitch of game one from Greenman Field is set for 3pm.
