Utica Splits Two Game Set at E8 Rival Stevens

Utica Splits Two Game Set at E8 Rival Stevens

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Utica 11, Stevens 2 (6 inn.) - Game One Box Score

Stevens 6, Utica 5 - Game Two Box Score

Weehawken, N.J.– The Utica College softball teamed dominated host Stevens Institute of Technology in game one as the Pioneers run-ruled their Empire 8 Conference counterpart 11-2 in six-innings, but the host Ducks used a late rally to earn a 6-5 victory in game two, as the two teams split a double header at Weehawken Waterfront Field Saturday.  Junior transfer Meghan Matan lifted her season average to .500 after an incredible 7-for-9 day at the dish.  Matan also scored four runs and swiped two bags as the Pioneers moved their record to 14-9 overall and 1-3 in conference play.  Matan currently has 13 steals and she needs just three more to tie the program’s single-season record of 16 set by Laura Meagher back in 2006. 

Senior utility player Hayley Butler also had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.  Freshman Courtney Fitzgerald totaled a team-best four RBIs on three hits, while all-conference first baseman Bridgette Plummer went 3-for-7 with two runs scored and one RBI. 
Utica 11, Stevens 2 (6 inn.) – Game One Final

The Pioneers were running on all cylinders in game one as they totaled 12 hits and scored 11 runs on their way to snapping a four game losing streak.  After being held scoreless in the first inning, the Pioneers crossed the plate at least once in each of their next five at-bats to earn the nine run victory.  UC used four hits to score four runs in the third inning to essentially put the game out of reach. 

Matan went 4-for-5 in game one and she also scored twice.  Eight of the Pioneers’ nine batters registered at least one hit in the victory.  Plummer when 2-for-4 with one RBI, while Butler was a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored.  Fitzgerald, Jess Anson, Dominique Carcone, and Christy Traglia each registered one hit.  Anson also scored a team-high three runs. 

Senior hurler Heather Kingsbury won her seventh game of the season as she struck out four and allowed just one earned run over the course of 6.0 innings of work. 
Stevens 6, Utica 5 – Game Two Final

UC kept the momentum of game one alive in the first inning of game two as it tacked on one run right out of the gates to garner a 1-0 lead.  Mallory Ingalls posted a sacrifice fly, scoring Matan, to account for the Pioneers first run of the contest. 

Stevens answered back this time, scoring three runs in the first three innings to take a 3-1 lead into the top of the fifth.  The Pioneers punched back by scoring four runs on three hits and one error in the top of the fifth inning to secure a 5-3 lead after five.  Naturally, Matan began the charge with an infield single and eventually the bases became loaded by the time Fitzgerald stepped up to the plate.  She answered the call by doubling to right center and clearing the bags to put Utica up, 4-3.  Reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year Kristie Jones drove in Fitzgerald in the next at-bat to give UC a two-run cushion. 

The Ducks rose to the challenge in the bottom half of the fifth as Jamie DeGennaro belted a home run down the left field line, scoring Danielle DeFeo -- before Noreen Jordan singled to center field to score Clair Strom -- and just like that home team was back in the driver’s season with a one run advantage, 6-5.

The Pioneers registered three hits over the course of the next two innings, but they could not get a run to cross home plate as the Ducks snuck away with a one run victory.