UTICA, NY – The SUNYIT softball team committed a total of nine errors and allowed18 unearned runs en route to being swept by local rival Utica College during a doubleheader Thursday, dropping game one 15-4 and game two 15-3 in two run-rule shortened contests.  After recently winning 10 straight contests, the Lady Wildcats have now dropped four in a row and fell to 14-7 overall, while Utica improved to 13-11 on the year.

Utica seemed to hit everything in game one, going 16-for-30 at the plate while hitting four home runs, including a grand slam by Kristie Jones in the top of the third after a fielding error by SUNYIT kept the inning alive.  It was one of two home runs in the contest for Jones, who finished 3-for-3 with eight RBI.  Sophomores Hannah Barton and Bridgette Plummer also hit home runs for Utica.

The Wildcats scored all four of their runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by junior Nicolette Kennedy (Yonkers, NY/Good Counsel Academy) and RBI singles by junior Kwanisha Jones (San Antonio, TX/Indian River) and sophomore Lyndsey Brognano (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy).

Game two was riddled with errors for the Wildcats, as they committed seven in the nightcap that Utica turned into 11 unearned runs.  It began in the top of the first when Utica's first two batters reached on errors, allowing the Pioneers to score four runs during the inning and giving them a lead they would never relinquish.  They eventually took a 7-2 lead in the six, where they exploded for eight runs to run-rule SUNYIT for a second time and finish the sweep.

Barton hit another home run and finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Mallory Ingalls drove in three runs and scored three more.

Junior Juleah Vedder (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) smashed two home runs in the loss, while senior Amanda Myers (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) hit a double and drove in a run.

The Wildcats will look to rebound tomorrow when they travel to SUNY Potsdam for a doubleheader.  Game one is scheduled to begin at 3:30 pm.