UTICA, NY (nazathletics.com) – Nazareth Softball delivered a dominant showing on the road Friday afternoon, sweeping an Empire 8 doubleheader against Utica University at Greenman Field. The Golden Flyers rallied late to take game one in extra innings, 10-8, before cruising to a commanding 15-1 victory in game two.
 
GAME ONE: NAZARETH 10, UTICA 8 (9 INN.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nazareth threatened early in the first inning as Alexis Brown singled and advanced to third, but Utica struck first with an RBI double to take a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers added two more runs in the second, capitalizing on a passed ball and a defensive miscue to extend the advantage to 3-0.
• The Golden Flyers broke through in the third when Ruby Marrapese tripled and came home on a groundout from Brown to cut the deficit to 3-1. Utica responded with a four-run fifth inning, using timely hitting and another error to stretch the lead to 7-1.
• Nazareth mounted a strong comeback in the sixth. Morgan Russo launched a two-run home run to spark the rally before RBI hits from Ashley Bell and Marrapese helped trim the deficit to 7-5.
• In the seventh, the Golden Flyers completed the comeback. Haleigh Suitor doubled in a run before Madison Darling delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game at 8-8 and force extra innings.
• After a scoreless eighth, Nazareth took control in the ninth. Bell drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, and Brown followed with another RBI hit to make it 10-8. The Golden Flyers held Utica scoreless in the bottom half to secure the comeback victory. 

GAME NOTES:

• Morgan Russo's two-run home run highlighted a four-run sixth inning.
• Madison Darling delivered a key two-RBI double in the seventh to tie the game.
• Alexis Brown and Ashley Bell each drove in runs in the decisive ninth inning.

 
GAME TWO: NAZARETH 15, UTICA 1 (5 INN.)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Nazareth wasted no time in game two, exploding for four runs in the first inning. Madison Hicks drove in the opening run, while Ella Maloney capped the frame with a two-RBI single to give the Golden Flyers a 4-0 lead.
• The offense stayed hot in the second as Hicks launched a solo home run to extend the lead to 5-0. Nazareth added two more runs in the third behind a two-RBI single from Russo, pushing the advantage to 7-0.
• The Golden Flyers continued to pile on in the fourth. Kaijah Alexander doubled in a run, and Bryanna Moroughan followed with a two-RBI double as part of a four-run inning that made it 11-0.
• Nazareth sealed the run-rule victory in the fifth with another four-run frame. Caitlyn Knapp delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a three-run home run, extending the lead to 15-0.
• Utica managed a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Nazareth limited further damage to secure the 15-1 win.

GAME NOTES:

• Madison Hicks homered and drove in multiple runs in the win.
• Morgan Russo added two RBIs, continuing a strong day at the plate.
• Caitlyn Knapp's three-run home run highlighted a four-run fifth inning.
• The Golden Flyers totaled 15 runs on consistent offensive pressure across all five innings.

 
UP NEXT:
Nazareth continues Empire 8 action on the road in Utica as they look to build on the momentum from Friday's doubleheader sweep against SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The games are set to start at 11am and 1pm on Saturday, April 25th at Wildcat Softball Field.

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