Utica Tops Berks to Earn Program's First NCAA Victory
Utica College 8, Penn State Berks 1 - NCAA Division III Softball Final
Ithaca, NY (5/10/13)- The Utica College softball team got back on track on day two of the NCAA Tournament as it downed Penn. State-Berks, 8-1 in the first round elimination game. Senior Mallory Ingalls was 3-for-4 with two RBI and picked off two runners to lead the Pioneers.
UC jumped out to a fast start as Ingalls hit an RBI single with two outs to score junior Chelsea Monroe in the first inning. Penn. St.-Berks fought back in the bottom of the frame as Missy Lamm drove in Jess Epler for the Nittany Lions’ only run of the game.
UC broke out in the top of the fifth inning with eight hits, to plate six runs. Sophomore Courtney Fitzgerald started the scoring as she hit a double over the centerfielder’s head to bring home Meghan Matan. Just one batter later, Ingalls hit an almost identical shot to center to score one. Freshman Alysa Russell followed that with a bases clearing triple. UC added two more scores as Taylor Ellis and Christy Traglia each drove in one run.
Sophomore Briona Enny struck out five and allowed just one run on five hits to move to an impressive 10-1 on the season. Russell and Traglia each finished 2-for-4 on the day, while Russell led the team with two runs scored.
UC will now play at 10 a.m. Saturday against Western Connecticut in an elimination game.