UTICA, NY - For the third consecutive season, the Utica University softball team has clinched a berth into the 2026 Empire 8 Softball Tournament. The seventh-seeded Pioneers will take on the sixth-seeded Russell Sage College Gators in a single seven inning play-in game on Tuesday, May 5 beginning at 3pm from the Pulmeri Complex in Albany, NY. 
 
Follow Along: For those unable to attend, live video can be found here, and live stats can be found here. 
 
Ticketing Information: For those who plan to attend, admission will be $10 for adults, $2 for students and seniors with ID, and children under 12 are free. Admission is to be paid in CASH ONLY at the venue.  
 
Tournament Schedule & Seeding: The seeding and schedule for the tournament is as follows: 
 
Seeding:
No. 1 – SUNY Geneseo (19-3 E8, 28-9 Overall)
No. 2 – St. John Fisher University (18-4 E8, 27-11 Overall)
No. 3 – Alfred University (18-4 E8, 25-13 Overall)
No. 4 – Nazareth University (17-5 E8, 25-11 Overall)
No. 5 – SUNY Brockport (13-9 E8, 17-17 Overall)
No. 6 – Russell Sage College (12-10 E8, 19-19 Overall
No. 7 – Utica University (11-11 E8, 16-20 Overall)
No. 8 – Elmira College (8-14 E8, 13-22 Overall)
 
Schedule:
Empire 8 First Round (Single Elimination, Hosted by Higher Seeds) 
Monday, May 4
No. 8 Elmira College at No. 5 SUNY Brockport – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5
No. 7 Utica University at No. 6 Russell Sage College – 3 p.m.
 
Empire 8 Double Elimination Championship (Hosted by SUNY Geneseo)
Thursday, May 7
Game 1 – Lowest first round winner seed at No. 1 SUNY Geneseo – 9 a.m.
Game 2 – Second lowest first round winner vs. No. 2 St. John Fisher University – 11:30 a.m.
Game 3 – No. 4 Nazareth University vs. No. 3 Alfred University – 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Losing Team from Game 1 vs. Losing Team from Game 2 (Elimination game) – 4:30 p.m.
 
Friday, May 8
Game 5 – Winning Team from Game 1 vs. Losing Team from Game 3 – 9 a.m.
Game 6 – Winning Team from Game 2 vs. Winning Team from Game 3 – 11:30 a.m.
Game 7 – TBD – 2 p.m.
Game 8 – TBD – 4:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, May 9
Game 9 – TBD – 11 a.m. 
Game 10 – TBD – 1:30 p.m. (Potential Championship Game)
 
Sunday, May 10 (If Necessary) 
Game 11 – Winning Team from Game 10 vs. Losing Team from Game 10 (if necessary) – 12 p.m.
 
Last Time Against Sage: The team split its regular season finale against Russell Sage on last Tuesday evening, falling 7-3 in the opener before bouncing back with a 9-7 win in game two. Kari Graziano (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) and Meghan Paul (Guilderland, NY/Guilderland) helped pace the offense early in the day, but the Pioneers were unable to overcome a fast start from the Gators in game one despite a complete game effort from Maggie Habernig (Kingston, NY/Kingston). Utica flipped the script in the nightcap, erupting for 13 hits behind a perfect 4-for-4 performance from Mya Strong (Hudson Falls, NY/Hudson Falls), who added two RBIs and two runs scored. Graziano delivered in key moments with four RBIs, while Paul and Lila Gray (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill) each contributed multi-hit efforts as the lineup produced up and down the order. After responding to multiple deficits, the Pioneers used a decisive middle-inning surge to take control, then held off a late push from Sage to secure the split. 
 
Another Look at Sage: Russell Sage enters postseason play with a 19-19 overall record and a 12-10 mark in Empire 8 competition, built around a balanced and contact-driven offense. The Gators are hitting .290 as a team with 179 runs scored on the season, led by Annalise Tyler, who sets the tone at the top with a .410 average and 48 hits. Emma Heartquist (.368) and Carmela DeMaio (.358) provide consistent production behind her, while Bella Julian (.301) adds another steady presence in the lineup. In the middle of the order, Katie Call (18 RBI) and Emily O'Keefe (19 RBI) anchor the run production, giving Sage multiple options to drive in runs throughout the lineup. Sage's offensive approach relies on stringing together quality at-bats rather than power, totaling 281 hits with 44 doubles and just one home run on the year. The Gators also apply pressure on the bases with 67 stolen bases and a .373 on-base percentage, consistently finding ways to manufacture runs and keep innings alive.
 
That approach continued against the Pioneers, as Sage elevated its production in the regular season meeting, hitting .345 as a team with 17 runs on 20 hits across the doubleheader. The middle of the order was particularly dangerous, with DeMaio and O'Keefe combining for seven RBIs, while Call continued her season-long success with a three-hit, two-RBI performance in game one. At the top, Tyler and Allison Kenyon helped create traffic on the bases, allowing Sage to capitalize in scoring situations.
 
In the circle, Sage features a reliable three-pitcher rotation that combines for a 3.85 ERA and 213 strikeouts. Annabella Putnam leads the staff with a 2.98 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 96.1 innings, while Bailey Catlin (3.01 ERA) and Alina Ferguson (56 strikeouts) provide additional depth. 
 
Up Next: With a win over Sage, the Pioneers would advance to the double-elimination portion of the 2026 Empire 8 Softball Tournament, with that action beginning on Thursday, May 7 in Geneseo, NY.