Utica Downs Endicott, But Falls to #20 Rowan University on Day 3
Kissimmee, FL (3/20/13)- The Utica College softball team went 1-1 on Tuesday at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL. Utica came from behind to knock off Endicott College in the first game before falling 6-4 to nationally-ranked No. 20 Rowan University in game two.
Game One:
Senior Bridget Plummer opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as she hit an RBI single to bring home classmate Mallory Ingalls.
The Gulls broke out in the third inning to score four runs. First, junior Alli Noyes ripped a solo shot to left field. Then, junior Jesse Bilafer doubled to score freshman Emily Hoffman, and Bilafer was driven in just two batters later. Endicott capped off the inning with an RBI single, before UC freshman Abby Monroe came into the game to get the final out. The Gulls were able to add another run in the top of the fourth, but the Pioneer defense held strong the rest of the game.
UC began to rally in the fifth as sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald singled to score classmate Christy Traglia. Ingalls then stepped up and hit a single to score junior Chelsea Monroe and freshman Taylor Ellis.
Once again it was Ingalls and Fitzgerald who helped tack the winning runs on the board in the sixth. First, Fitzgerald hit a two-run shot, her third home run in as many games, to score Ellis. Then Ingalls hit a double that gave the right fielder trouble and the senior catcher was able to make it home for Utica’s seventh run. Abby Monroe threw lights out in the seventh, retiring three straight batters to pick up her third win of the season. Monroe and starter Briona Enny combined to allow seven hits and strike out six batters.
Game Two:
Utica fell behind 3-0 after three innings, but the Pioneer upperclassmen went to work. Ingalls hit a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth, followed by senior Dominique Carcone nailing a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score freshman Alysa Russell. UC went ahead in the top of the seventh as Abby Monroe reached on an error by the second baseman that scored Traglia and Meghan Matan.
Rowan fought back as senior Stephanie Labas hit a three run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh to steal the victory for the 20th ranked Profs and snap UC’s four-game winning streak. Freshman starter Erica Colucci gave up seven hits and three runs in six innings of work, while sophomore Cassidy Thompson gave up two hits including the walk off homer.
Ingalls went 5-for-8 on the day with four RBI and three runs scored, while Traglia was 2-for-5 with two runs, and Fitzgerald was 2-for-7 with three RBI and one run. Freshman Taylor Ellis was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs in the first game. UC, now 4-2 overall, will have Wednesday off before facing Augsburg College (11 a.m.) and Anderson University (1 p.m.) on Thursday.
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