Game 1 l
Game 2 l
Updated statsUTICA, N.Y. -- Nazareth fell to host Utica in a pair of Empire 8 Conference softball games on Saturday. The Pioneers defeated the Golden Flyers 3-0 in game one and 15-1 in game two. In the second game, junior
Cydney Luke walked and scored Nazareth's run on a double by freshman
Stephanie Mongelli.
Following the losses, the Golden Flyers drop to 10-12 overall and 3-5 in conference games. With the victories, Utica improves to 12-12 overall and 4-4 in Empire 8 games.
In game one, Nazareth was limited to two hits by Brittany Meka. Junior
Cydney Luke connected on a two-out single in the top of the second, and classmate
Carly Pike hit a lead-off single in the seventh inning. Meka finished with three strikeouts and improved to 3-3 on the season. Senior
Nicole Bayona took the game one loss as she allowed the three runs on seven hits in six innings. She also had one strikeout.
The Pioneers scored the first run in the fourth inning then added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. In the fourth, the first two batters reached on a walk and a double. Nazareth temporarily held Utica off the board when Bayona threw out Alaina Wickwire at the plate. Sabrina Stransky, who had doubled, scored on Christy Traglia's single to left field. With runners at second and third the Golden Flyers prevented further damage by collecting consecutive outs to end the inning. In the sixth, Utica extended its lead on a two-run double to right field by Alyssa Russell.
In game two, the Pioneers opened the contest with five runs in the bottom of the first to take control. They added a run in the second and two in the third before Luke scored on Mongelli's extra-base hit in the top of the fourth. Following Luke's run, Utica answered with seven runs in the bottom frame. Nazareth was held to three hits in the second game. In addition to the double by Mongelli, she also had a single. Sophomore
Emily Graham also had a hit.
Sophomore
Nicole White pitched the first 2.1 innings and allowed eight runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. In relief, junior
Danae Wetherbee allowed seven runs, one earned, on eight hits in 1.2 innings. Abby Monroe earned the win and improved to 6-5 on the season. She held the Golden Flyers to three hits and struck out eight batters.
Nazareth is in action again on Sunday when the Golden Flyers travel to Ithaca for another Empire 8 doubleheader.