UTICA, N.Y. - The Union College softball team headed west to Utica University for their first official midweek action of the 2024 season Wednesday and couldn't complete their game one comeback, falling 5-4, before dropping game two, 3-1.
 
Game One: Utica 5, Union 4 
 
Utica raced out to a 4-0 lead through three innings thanks to a quadruple of extra-base hits. After only getting four runners on base all via walks in their first four at-bats, the Union offense woke up in the fifth.
 
The rally started with leadoff singles from first-year Sam Rose and junior Melody Kappel, and a pair of stolen bases put runners on second and third with no outs. Junior Riley Callahan followed with a single of her own to bring in Rose, and a bases-loaded walk later in the inning from junior Tatum Perkins scored Callahan before a wild pitch allowed sophomore Haley Gibbons to cross home to cut the deficit to one.
 
Union was not able to put together anything in the sixth, but a huge single from first-year Maddy Ewald with Union down to their final strike scored Callahan to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
 
Union's comeback hopes would end there, however, as a throwing error in the home half off a sacrifice bunt would allow the winning run to come around and score.
 
Game Two: Utica 3, Union 1
 
Union would be the one to score first in the back end of the doubleheader, with sophomore Ellie Wintringer blasting her second home run of the season to left center to give Union a 1-0 lead in the second inning. 
 
Utica wasted no time formulating a response, getting two in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Pioneers added an insurance run in the sixth before the Garnet Chargers looked to put together another seventh-inning rally. Singles from junior Nahnny Sobetzko and Ewald put runners on base before a wild pitch moved the tying run into scoring position, but the tying run would be left on second as the Garnet Chargers couldn't cash in.
 
Gibbons, Ewald, and Kappel led the offense picking up a hit in both games, while Kappel reached twice more with a pair of walks and Wintringer reached base safely three times, taking two walks herself in addition to her home run.
 
In the circle, Kappel was strong. The junior pitched a combined nine and a third innings across the doubleheader, allowing seven hits, four runs (three earned), and five walks while striking out six.
 
Union returns to Liberty League action at home this weekend, with the Garnet Chargers set to host a pair of doubleheaders against local foes at Alexander Field. Action is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 PM on Friday when Union hosts Skidmore before the Garnet Chargers face off with Rensselaer on Saturday at 1:00.