UTICA, NY – The Nazareth College Softball team made a late attempt to overcome a deficit in game one and surrendered an early lead in game two Saturday afternoon as Utica College swept an Empire 8 doubleheader by scores of 10-7 and 5-4 on Greenman Field.
Nazareth (2-8 overall, 2-5 Empire 8) scored six runs in the final three innings after Utica (9-5, 4-4 E8) scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 10-3 lead. The Golden Flyers added three runs in the sixth and another run in the seventh but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
In game two, Nazareth scored a pair of runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead but Utica answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to knot the score. The Golden Flyers regained the lead in the fourth as junior Sarah Simmons had a RBI single but once again the Pioneers answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to tie the score and took the lead in the fifth with the final run of the game.
In the opener sophomore Lily Sullivan was 3-for-4 with a run scored and junior Aubrin Smith was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored.
For the day, Simmons, freshman Megan Pum and senior Janelle Walters were each 3-for-8. Simmons added three RBI and a run while Walters had three runs scored. Pum recorded a par of RBI and a run to the offense.
In the second game, starting pitcher Emily Daciw allowed five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and also contributed two hits as she finished 2-for-3.
Nazareth returns home for another conference doubleheader Sunday against Russell Sage with games at 12 and 2 p.m. on Flyer Field.
