Utica Tops Caz in Season Finale
Utica, NY (4/30/15)- The Utica College softball team closed out its season Thursday with two run-rule victories over visiting Cazenovia, 8-0 and 10-1. The Pioneers wrap up the year with an 18-16 overall record. It marks the fifth straight year Utica has finished above .500.
Junior
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) led the way for UC as she was 6-for-7 at the plate with two home runs, one triple, five RBI, and she also added one steal
Utica 8, Cazenovia 0- Game One (6 Inn.)
Freshman
Brittany Meka (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) was lights out in the circle as she fanned a career-high 13 batters. It's the most batters struck out in a single game by a Utica pitcher in over four years. She allowed just four hits in the shutout for her fifth win of the season.
Utica plated four runs in the bottom of the second as seniors
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) and
Alex Deyo (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) and freshman Kim Beattie each drove in runs. Neither team scored over the next three and a half innings before UC picked up four more runs in the sixth to seal the victory.
Alysa Russell (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, marking the first time in her career she has accomplished the feat. Deyo and Beattie were each 2-for-3, while Traglia was 2-for-4. Freshmen
Samantha Whitehouse (Greenwich, NY/Greenwich) and
Samantha Sanky (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) also recorded hits. Russell, Traglia, and Sanky each added one steal in the win.
Utica 10, Cazenovia 1- Game Two (5 Inn.)
This time it was the Wildcats who got on the board first as Kelsey Schuette drove in Kathleen Kehlenbeck. The Pioneers responded with an eight-run second inning, and they also scored twice in the third to cruise to victory. Russell hit back-to-back homers in the second and third, scoring four runs to lead the charge. She finishes the season with a team-high seven home runs and on a 12-game hitting streak.
Russell,
Stephanie Siriano (Sauquoit, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), and
Kassidy Ogren (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) were each 2-for-3 with seven combined RBI and four runs scored.
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central),
Samantha Husak (Jackson, MI/Grass Lake), Alainda Wickwire and
Alex Deyo (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) each had one hit.
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk) had a season-high three stolen bases, while Siriano Husak, and
Sabrina Stransky (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) also had steals. Junior
Abby Monroe (Watertown, NY/General Brown) struck out five and gave up just one hit as she improved to 8-7 on the year.
The Pioneers bid goodbye to three seniors, including
Courtney Fitzgerald (Albany, NY/Colonie Central),
Christy Traglia (Mohawk, NY/Mohawk), and
Alex Deyo (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central).
Fitzgerald wraps up her career as the program's all-time leader in home runs (25), doubles (45), RBI (136), and total bases (286). She is also the co-owner of the College's single-season home run record (10), which she accomplished as a sophomore.
Traglia is the career leader with 48 stolen bases and finishes the season with a team-high 14 steals. Deyo wraps up her senior campaign with a career-high .400 batting average and a career fielding percentage of 1.000.