Game 1 | Game 2 | Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth salvaged a split of an Empire 8 Conference softball doubleheader Saturday as the Golden Flyers used a run-scoring single by senior Brittany Patenaude in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 victory over Utica in the second game. The Pioneers rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the first game to win 4-3.

Nazareth is 7-19 overall and 1-5 in the Empire 8. Utica is 19-10 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Nazareth hosts Ithaca Sunday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Utica visists St. John Fisher.

With the score tied 2-2 in the second game, Sarah Cipperly reached on a two-out single in the sixth and advanced to third on a double by Casey Mathers. Patenaude then delivered the game-winning single to left field. Utica threatened in the top of the seventh after a lead-off double by Jess Anson off Mathers. Anson advanced to third one out later on a single by Christy Traglia.

Mathers then enticed Courtney Fitzgerald to hit a grounder to shortstop, where Cipperly fielded the ball and threw to Patenaude at home. Patenaude then threw to third, where Liz Toner tagged out Anson attempting to get back to the base. Mathers then got Mallory Ingalls on a pop-up to end the game.

Mathers scattered nine hits over seven innings and had two strikeouts to gain her fourth win.

Nazareth took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after a lead-off single by Kailey Ritch, who was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Toner. Ritch then scored one out later on a double by Mathers. Utica went ahead 2-1 with a pair of runs in the fifth, but Nazareth tied it in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Sophia Rhoades, her second of the season.

In the first game, Nazareth built a 3-0 lead with one run in the first inning and two in the third. Ritch opened the bottom of the first with a single and scored two outs later on a single by Mathers. In the third, Ritch was hit by a pitch, Toner reached on an error and Cipperly walked to load the bases. A single by Mathers chased Ritch home, then Toner later scored on a base hit by Rhoades.

Utica rallied with two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth and then added the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. Meghan Matan reached on a two-base error, advanced to third on an infield grounder and scored on a single by Fitzgerald.

Kelly Kocher was the losing pitcher for Nazareth despite amassing nine strikeouts. Ritch and Mathers each had two hits. Mathers boosted her batting average to a team-best .425 with 16 RBIs. Cipperly and Ritch are batting .376 and .338 respectively.