UTICA, N.Y. – The Keuka College Softball team split against Utica College on Wednesday in an Empire 8 Conference matchup.

Keuka College (2-4, 2-4 Empire 8) came out ready to play today but Utica College (7-5, 1-3 Empire 8) would take game one 3-2. The Wolves would fight back and take the victory in game two winning 5-3.  

Utica College 3 vs. Keuka College 2 – Game one

The Keuka College Softball team would get off to a hot start as leadoff batter Helena Hill (Akron, N.Y. / Akron) would hit a single through the left side and steal second. Hill would than use her speed and steal third. Senior Shelby Burgess (Hamburg, N.Y. / Frontier) put the ball in play scoring Hill. In the second inning the Wolves would put pressure on the defense and Jorydn Fargo (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira Norte Dame) would get hit by a pitch. Kelsey Mohl (Averill Park, N.Y. Averill Park) doubled to center scoring Fargo the Wolves would lead 2-0.

Starting pitcher Whitney Tyler (Meshoppen, Pa. / Elk Lake) would hold the Pioneers offense up till the fourth inning. Utica College would put the ball in play to make the Wolves defense make play's. With two outs the Pioneers took advantage of the Wolves errors and scored three runs.

From here on out it was a pitching duel and both pitchers wouldn't let anyone else score. The Pioneers would take game one winning 3-2.  

Lead Wolf: Helena Hill went 3-3 today at the plate, and stole five bases. She would come around to score twice and be the Wolves only two runs in today's matchup.

Keuka College 5 vs Utica College 3 – Game two  

The bats woke up for Keuka College right from the start. Hill would have a leadoff double and Kruse would get hit by a pitch. Jordan Cole (Campbell, N.Y. / Campbell-Savona) would hit a single to center field and would advance all the way to third on an error by the center fielder. Freshman Emily VanDelinder (Corning, N.Y. / Corning) would single up the middle and score Cole making the lead 3-0.

In the second inning the bats didn't stop. Danielle Bosch (Livonia, N.Y. / Livonia) and Hill both reached base by putting the ball in play and taking advantage of the miscues in the field form the Pioneers defense. Abby Kruse singled to left field to bring in Bosch and Hill.

Fourth Inning for Utica was where they would put pressure on the Wolves defense and make the shorten the lead 5-2. They would add one more in the fifth but the lead would stand for Keuka College as the Wolves defeated Utica College 5-3.

Lead Wolf: Freshman Abby Kruse would have the big hit for the Wolves with two RBI in today's game to make the lead 5-0.

KC Notes:

• Keuka College is now 6-16 all-time against Utica College. Today's games where the first time the two teams have met since 2001.
• Today's win was the first win against Utica College since 1998.
• Today marked Ann Stull (Addison, N.Y. / Addison) 50 career games played between Keuka and Nazareth College.
• Helena Hill had five stolen bases in game one is a school record and is tied for most in NCAA this season. Hill is also fourth nationwide to have five stolen bases in a game this season.  

Up Next for the Wolves: The Wolves stay on the road as they travel to Alfred University on Friday April 16, 2021 for an Empire 8 Conference matchup.