Utica Breaks Records; Fisher Sweeps Houghton
UTICA v ELMIRA
The Utica College softball team combined to outscore host Elmira College 25-2 in a pair of run-rule victories Friday afternoon in Empire 8 Conference action. Three Pioneers tied or broke career records in the twin bill.
Senior
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), who already owns the program's career homerun and doubles records, also set a new standard for RBI. Fitzgerald drove in nine runners over the two games to move her career total to 126, eight more than previous record holder, Abby Drew '09. Fitzgerald also added one homerun and four doubles, to move her career totals to 24 and 42, respectively.
Junior
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) struck out five and allowed just three hits as she picked up her seventh win of the season. Monroe now has a program record of 38 career wins. She is also currently fourth all-time 248 career strikeouts.
Senior outfielder
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) notched one steal on the day to tie the program record with 41 stolen bases, held by Laura Meagher '06.
With the win, Utica improves to 14-14 overall and 6-6 in Empire 8 play. The Pioneers return to action Saturday to wrap up conference play against Stevens Institute of Technology. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Utica's Greenman Field. UC must sweep the Ducks to earn a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the third year in a row.
Utica 11, Elmira 2- Game One Final (5 Inn.)
Each team traded runs in the first two innings before the Pioneers broke the game open with a seven-run fourth inning, which was highlighted by a three-run homerun by freshman
Alaina Wickwire (Towanda, PA/Towanda).
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) was 3-for-4 at the plate, as she recorded three doubles and also drove in three runs.
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) was 2-for-2, while
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) and
Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) were each 2-for-3, with Siriano addimg a team-best three runs scored.
Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake) was 2-for-4, while
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville),
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place), and Wickwire each had one hit.
Freshman
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) had five strikeouts and allowed six hits as she improved to 4-4 on the year, while Elmira's Marisa Bernardi and Katie McDougal combined to give up 14 hits in the loss. Siriano and Husak also added one steal apiece for the Pioneers.
Utica 14, Elmira 0- Game Two Final (5 Inn.)
The Pioneers picked up right where they left off as they totaled seven runs in the first two innings.
Courtney Fitzgerald was once again 3-for-4 at the plate, including a homerun, with two runs scored and a career-best six RBI to pace UC.
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) was also 3-for-4, with two runs scored, two RBI, and one steal.
Nine other players recorded hits in game two.
ST. JOHN FISHER v HOUGHTON
The St. John Fisher College softball squad locked up a spot in next week's four-team Empire 8 tournament after sweeping Houghton College on Friday at Fisher's Softball Complex. Alfred University earned the top seed and will host the tournament on May 1
st and 2
nd(May 3
rd if necessary). Ithaca has secured the No. 2 seed, while Fisher will be either the No. 3 or 4 seed.
With the wins, Fisher improves to 26-12 overall and 9-5 in Empire 8 play while Houghton falls to 4-25, 1-9 respectively.
Game 1: Fisher 11, Houghton 0 (5 innings)
Fisher added four runs in both the first and fourth innings, along with three in the second to earn the mercy rule win in five innings.
Emma Savas registered a 2 RBI single to get the scoring started for Fisher.
Jessie Smyrski notched a sacrifice fly to right field to score
Lauren Owens later in the inning.
Danielle Ventrone picked up the final RBI of the inning on a double down the left field line.
Kristina Balsano launched her third home run in three games on a rope to center field to lead off the second inning.
Karlie Neale and Owens picked up RBI in the inning to push Fisher's lead to 7-0.
In Fisher's final at bat of the game, Owens hit an RBI double to score
Jennifer Knaak. Ventrone hit her first career home run, a 3-run shot, for Fisher's final scoring in the game.
Lindsey Thayer picked up the win from the circle for Fisher, striking out 12 of 17 batters, while allowing just two hits.
Ventrone led the way with four RBI on 2-for-2 hitting. Owens was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, while Savas brought in two runners on the day.
Game 2: Fisher 7, Houghton 4
Houghton put the pressure on in the first two innings, adding two runs per frame. Ventrone nailed down her fifth RBI of the day to score
Christina Sakran in the first inning.
Fisher halved the Highlanders' lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning on an infield hit from Smyrski to score Sakran.
The Cardinals' offense came alive in the fifth inning, beginning with a bases-clearing double from Kylie Martin.
Kate Disbrow singled to right field to score Martin and
Megan Keib scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to complete the scoring for the game.
Halie Schoff went the distance for Fisher, picking up her fifth win of the season. The junior scattered eight hits, while giving up four runs (two earned) and striking out three.
Alyssa Piparo went 2-for-4 in the game, while
Caroline Keane secured her first collegiate hit (2-for-4).
|
SCHOOL |
CONF |
OVERALL |
|
Alfred |
11-1 |
29-3 |
|
Ithaca |
9-3 |
17-11 |
|
St. John Fisher |
9-5 |
26-12 |
|
Stevens |
6-4 |
20-7-1 |
|
Utica |
6-6 |
14-14 |
|
Nazareth |
3-9 |
12-16 |
|
Elmira |
1-9 |
8-10 |
|
Houghton |
1-9 |
4-25 |