Strong Hitting Leads Utica to 2-0 Record on Day Two in Florida
Kissimmee, FL (3/18/13)- The bats came alive on day two of the Rebel Spring Games as the Utica College softball team combined to hit three home runs and outscore opponents 14-3 through two games on Monday. The Pioneers defeated Springfield College 3-2 in the first game, before knocking off Otterbein College 11-1 in the second game.
Game One:
Springfield opened the scoring in the top of the first as Jenna Webb doubled to score Kelly Blake. The Pioneers rebounded in the bottom of the third as sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald hit a three-run shot to score classmate Christy Traglia and freshman Taylor Ellis. The Pride was able to added another run in the top of the seventh, but sophomore Cassidy Thompson, who replaced starter Erica Colucci, was able to hold on to lift UC to a 3-2 victory.
Colucci picked up her first collegiate win, while Thompson nabbed her second save of the season.
Game Two:
UC jumped out to an early lead as Traglia hit an RBI single to center field to bring home junior Meghan Matan. Just three batters later, senior Mallory Ingalls singled to drive home Traglia. In the bottom of the second, Ingalls singled with the bases loaded to bring home Traglia and Matan, while Fitzgerald scored on an error by the left fielder. Then, freshman Alysa Russell ripped her first collegiate homerun, a two-run shot to left, to bring home Ingalls.
Utica took an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth as freshman Sarah Kinney with the bases loaded to bring home Alex Deyo. The Cardinals were able to get one on the board in the fifth inning before Fitgerald hit another three-run blast to end the game by way of the run rule.
Freshman Abby Monroe allowed just two hits in four innings to pick up her second win of the year, while sophomore Briona Enny gave up one hit to pick up her first save.
Traglia went 5-for-5 on the day, while Fitzgerald had two 3-run home runs. Ingalls was 3-for-6 with three RBI and one run scored, senior Bridgette Plummer was 2-for-6 on the day.
UC, winners of three straight will take on Endicott College and Rowan University on Tuesday.
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