SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College softball team earned a split against Utica University in a pair of games that both went into extra innings on Saturday afternoon from Alexander Field. Union earned a walk off win in game one 10-9 in eight innings, before falling 6-4 in nine innings in game 2.

First-year Ellie Wintringer went 4-8 in the doubleheader with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Sophomore Nahnny Sobetzko was also 4-8 in the games with a double and three RBI. Senior Olivia Valery tallied three more RBI to push her season total to 22.

Game 1: Union 10, Utica 9 (8 innings)

Union (4-8) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Riley Callahan reached first after a dropped fly ball. Senior Karson Saunders walked to put runners on first and second base. Valery advanced Saunders and Callahan on a ground out. With two outs Wintringer singled through the left side scoring both Saunders and Callahan for give Union a 2-0 lead. Sobetzko singled in the next at bat to push Wintringer to second. Senior Amanda Granato singled through the left side and scored Wintringer. Union led 3-0 after 1 inning.

Utica (9-5) grabbed a run back in the top of third inning with a run on an error. Union jumped back out to a three-run lead with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Wintringer doubled to left center with one out. Sobetzko singled in Wintringer and regained a 4-1 Union lead.

In the top half of the fourth inning, the Pioneers exploded for five runs on five hits and grabbed a 6-4 lead over Union. In the bottom of the fourth Union cut into the Pioneer's lead after a single from senior Anna Zdunczyk and then classmate Tara Hartnett singled Zdunczyk in from second base to make it 6-5 Utica.

The Pioneers regained their two-run lead with a double to left field. Union trailed 7-5 into the bottom half of the seventh inning. Saunders singled with one out to get the inning started. Valery doubled down the left field line and scored Saunders from first. With two outs, Sobetzko doubled in Valery to tie the game 7-7.

Sevens innings was not enough for these two teams and went to extra innings. Utica plated two runs in the top half of the inning to lead 9-7, scoring two runs on two hits. Union needed two runs to keep the game going or three to win it.

Zdunczyk began on second base due to the extra innings rules. She advanced to third base on a wild. Sophomore Melody Kappel reached first base on an error by the short stop and Zdunczyk scored to cut the lead to 9-8. Hartnett then batted and doubled, pushing Kappel to third. Utica intentionally walked Callahan to load the bases and play for the force out at home plate. Saunders then stepped into the batter's box with the bases loaded. Saunders hit a ball up the middle that was grabbed by the short stop, the short stop threw home looking for the force out and the throw was off. Kappel scored to tie it and Hartnett also ran home before Utica was able to get the ball to home plate.

Union won 10-9 in eight innings. Granato (2-3) earned her second win of the season after throwing 143 balls in the game. Granato struck out two and walked four batters in the game.
 
Game 2: Utica 6, Union 4 (9 innings)
The Pioneers opened the scoring in game two with a run in the first inning. Union answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning. Wintringer doubled to open the inning. Zdunczyk also reached base on an error from the short stop. Zdunczyk stole second. Wintringer scored on a wild pitch. The game was tied 1-1 after two innings.

In the third inning, Granato singled with one out. Saunders doubled to right center and advanced Granato to third base. Valery singled scoring both Saunders and Granato to give Union a 3-2 lead.

The Pioneers pulled even in the top of the fifth inning with a sac fly. Neither team was able to find anymore runs in the remaining innings and like game one, this game was headed for extra innings.

Utica scored three times in the top of the ninth inning on three hits to blow open the close game, 6-3. In the bottom half of the inning with Valery placed on second, Sobetzko singled down the left field line and scored Valery. Union fell 6-4 to Utica in game two.

Sophomore Autumn Duff (0-3) was credited with the loss, allowing 6 runs in eight innings of work. Duff struck out six batters. Kappel came in for relief in the ninth innings and struck out one.
Union will continue their home stand with a doubleheader against Middlebury on Friday, April 6 on Alexander Field. Union dropped a 12-10 nail-bitter in Florida to the Panthers earlier this season. Game 1 is set for 3:30.