UTICA, NY – Senior Justine Brooks had a two-run hit to give the Nazareth Softball team a late lead as the Golden Flyers went on to post a 6-4 win in the opening game but Utica rallied for a pair of runs in the sixth inning of the nightcap to salvage a split with a 2-1 win in game two.

Junior Cassidy Hoffmier led Nazareth (10-8 overall, 4-2 Empire 8) as she was 5-for-7 with two runs scored on the day and fellow junior Megan Pum was 3-for-6 in the doubleheader.

In game one, Utica (15-9, 4-2 Empire 8) scored three times in the first two inning to take the early lead. Each team scored in the fourth as senior Hailey Bennett singled to score freshman Maddy Spakoski.

Nazareth added one more run in the fifth as graduate student Sarah Simmons tripled to score Brooks to trim the Utica lead to 4-2.

In the sixth, sophomore Maggie Burdick singled to start the inning. With one out, senior Emily Daciw doubled for one run. With two outs, Hoffmier and Pum each singled and Daciw came home to tie the score.

Brooks followed with a two-run single to give Nazareth the 6-4 lead.

The Pioneers put runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings but starting pitcher Bennett retired the side each time to preserve the win.

In game two, Daciw pitched the complete game but surrendered a pair of runs on a pair of early hits as Utica took advantage of the Nazareth offense that struggled to score to earn the split with a 2-1 win.

The lone Nazareth run came in the top of the sixth as Hoffmier scored as a result of an error.