The Keuka College Softball team was swept in an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader at Utica University on Wednesday afternoon.
Keuka College (5-28, 3-17 Empire 8) dropped the opener 7-2 before falling in the nightcap 17-5 in five innings.
Utica University 7 vs. Keuka College 2 – Game 1
The Pioneers took the lead with three hits in the first inning, but the Wolves answered back to tie the game in the third. Katie Landers (Batavia, N.Y. / Batavia Notre Dame) singled for Keuka and then moved to second on a walk. She came in on a single by Kaylin Ritenour (Madison, Pa. / Yough) to tie the game 1-1.
Utica took the lead back in the bottom of the inning, but the Wolves responded right back as Haley Mascho (Bolivar, N.Y. / Bolivar-Richburg) hit her first collegiate home run to tie the game at 2-2.
The long ball continued in the game as Utica used a two-run home run in the fourth and fifth to take the lead. They added an insurance run in the sixth on a solo home run. Utica continued on to defeat the Wolves 7-2.
Utica University 17 vs. Keuka College 5 (5 inn.) – Game 2
The Wolves threatened in the top of the first as they loaded the bases, but were unable to score a run. Keuka, however, would take the lead in the top of the second inning. An error, walk, and hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs for the Wolves. Hailey Jasinski (Buffalo, N.Y. / North Collins) singled to score one run. Grace Eagen (Buffalo, N.Y. / West Seneca West) worked a bases-loaded walk for a run and Giana Mruczek (Batavia, N.Y. / Batavia) singled home another run. Mascho added a bases-loaded walk as Keuka scored four in the inning for the early advantage.
Utica would respond in a big way. The Pioneers rattled off 17 unanswered over the next three innings to take control of the game. Emily Cutrona (Buffalo, N.Y. / West Seneca West) doubled and scored in the fifth for Keuka, but the game was in hand as the Wolves fell 17-5 in game two.
KC Notes:
- In a series that began in 1989, Utica leads Keuka 24-9 all-time
- Olivia Flynn (Williamson, N.Y. / Williamson) pitched the first game for the Wolves. It was her 50th career appearance in the circle for the Green and Gold. She struck out three Pioneers in the game, moving her career total to 123 strikeouts, ninth-most in program history
- Kaylin Ritenour set a new career-high with two stolen bases in game one
- Ritenour had a team-high two hits in game one as well, but saw her six-game hitting streak end in game two
- Grace Eagan and Giana Mruczek each had two hits for the Wolves in game two
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves have their final games of the 2025 season on Friday as they host Houghton University in an Empire 8 doubleheader at 3 p.m. Between the two games of the doubleheader will be the annual Senior Day ceremony for the Keuka College Softball team.
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