SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.-- The Skidmore College softball team dropped a pair to Utica College, 17-2, 16-3 in its home opener, Wednesday at Wagner Park.
 
The Thoroughbreds fall to 4-8, while the Pioneers even their record at 6-6.
 
In the first game, Utica sent 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring eight runs on six hits. The rally was highlighted by a Samantha Stranksy grand slam and a Samatha Husak two-run double.
 
Pioneers tacked on four runs in the second, three in the third and two in the fourth en route to the 17-2 win.
 
Lauren Fortunato went 2-for-3 with a double for the Thoroughbreds, while Lauren Gorstein was 1-for-2 with an RBI triple.
 
Husak was 2-for-3 with a double and five RBI, while Stransky finished 2-for-3 with four RBI. Abby Monroe earned the win on the mound, striking allowing two runs on six hits and striking out two over five innings. 
 
In the second game, Stephanie Siriano homered in the first for Utica and then the Pioneers used a five-run second inning to open a 6-0 lead. Utica strung together six straight hits to score four of the runs with two outs.   In the third, Husak drilled a bases loaded double to left field to make it 9-0.
 
Skidmore scored a pair in the fourth when Mackenzie Whiting doubled down the left field line to plate Fortunato.  Gorstein ran for Whiting and scored on delayed steal error.
 
Utica responded with seven runs (two earned) in its half of the fourth to break the game open. Dominique Soto and Siriano had two-run doubles.
 
Skidmore scored its final run when May-Lin McEvoy reached on pinch-hit single and later scored on an infield hit by Sam Skott.
 
Husak finished 2-4 with four RBI and Siriano and Alaina Wickwire were each 3-4. Brittany Meka got the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
 
Skidmore returns to action at home March 28 against Castleton at 1 p.m.