SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College softball team ended the weekend with a doubleheader split with Utica, in non-league action at Wagner Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The Thoroughbreds won game one, 9-4, but dropped the finale by a 12-4 margin.
 
Skidmore (7-7) finished the weekend 3-1 after a Saturday sweep of Cazenovia. Utica's record is 5-7.
 
The Thoroughbreds tallied nine runs on 13 hits in game one, taking advantage of five Utica errors. The Thoroughbreds would get on the board early in the first inning. After Lizette Roman-Johnston, Karly Fishkin and Hannah Paolucci reached base to begin the game, Jill Strileckis brought home Roman-Johnston and Fishkin with a two-RBI single up the middle. Two batters later, Kristina Foley brought home Paolucci with a two-out single to center field, giving the Thoroughbreds a 3-0 lead.
 
Utica would cut into the deficit in the top of the second. With one on, Dominique Soto hit a one-out, two-run homer to center field, as Skidmore led 3-2. Utica would tie the game at three in the top of the third, before an Emily Popp two-out RBI single in the bottom of the frame gave Skidmore the 4-3 lead.
 
The Thoroughbreds began to pull away from the Pioneers thanks to a three-run fourth and a two-run fifth. In the fourth, Nicole Rosner scored Adrianna Garcia from second with a one-out single to left center. Roman-Johnston would get on as the next batter, setting the table for a one-out, two-RBI double for Fishkin, as Skidmore held a 7-3 lead. In the next inning, an error in left field led to a pair of Thoroughbred runs, with Skidmore holding a 9-3 lead after five.
 
Utica threatened in the sixth. After the Pioneers scored on a fielder's choice, the bases were loaded with two outs for Sabrina Stransky. On an 0-1 pitch, Stransky shot a liner up the middle, but a heads-up play by Amanda Carilli in the circle prevented further damage, as she caught a hard liner to end the sixth. From there, Carilli retired the side in order in the seventh to clinch the victory.
 
Carilli (3-2) would win her second straight decision, improving to 3-2 on the season after allowing four earned on 11 hits through seven innings, striking out three batters. Offensively, Fishkin led the group with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in two RBIs and scoring twice. Roman-Johnston and Paolucci each went 2-for-4, while Strileckis went 1-for-4, driving in a pair of runs. Foley would finish 1-for-2 with a walk, and Rosner went 1-for-3, scoring twice and driving in a run.
 
Soto would go 2-for-3 to lead the Utica offense, driving in the two runs on the homer. Jamie Miller went 3-for-3. Gabby Caccamo (2-3) would take the loss, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits in 3.1 innings. Stransky would pitch 2.2 innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs on two hits.
 
In game two, it was Utica's turn to supply the offense, jumping out to a 9-0 lead after five and a half innings. Skidmore would threaten late, briefly bouncing back with a four-run bottom fifth. After a pair of walks by Rosner and Fishkin and a single by Paolucci loaded the bases, Strileckis took a 2-0 pitch back up the middle, hitting a one-out RBI single to get the Thoroughbreds on the board. The next batter, Popp, hit a sac fly to center, scoring Fishkin, but an errant throw at third base scored both Paolucci and Strileckis, as Skidmore nearly cut the deficit in half, trailing 9-4.
 
Utica would add to the lead with a three-run sixth inning. Skidmore would threaten to rally again in the bottom of the inning getting runners on second and third, but Stransky would force Fishkin to ground out to third base to end the game.
 
Alyssa Samborin (1-1) picked up the win for the Pioneers, allowing two earned runs on five hits in 4.1 innings of work. Stransky would pitch the final 1.2 innings, allowing just two hits.
 
Seven different Thoroughbreds tallied a hit in game two. Fishkin also added a pair of walks, going 1-for-2.  Popp (0-4) took the loss, striking out a pair of batters but allowing six earned in three innings of work. Rosner pitched in relief, striking out a batter in three innings of work.
 
Skidmore will next host Southern Vermont in a make-up doubleheader on Tuesday, with first pitch at 3:30 p.m.