UTICA, NY—The Utica Pioneers swept both ends of Saturday's doubleheader over the Houghton Highlanders in a pair of run-shortened games, 12-2 and 9-1.
 
Game 1:
The Pioneers offense exploded in the first two innings, scoring nine runs on 11 hits.
 
Houghton rallied for a pair of runs in the third when freshman Kaylee Jentsch (Orchard Park, NY, Orchard Park ) hit a two-RBI double, plating Toni Kling (Wellsville, NY, Wellsville ) and Bailey Shattell (Syracuse, NY, Faith Heritage ).
 
In the fourth, Utica pushed across three more runs and the Highlanders failed to score in the fifth, which completed the game.
 
Five different Highlanders picked up hits in the losing effort.
 
Game 2:
Houghton opened the scoring in the first when Taylor Sile (Hilton, NY, Hilton ) plated Shattell with a ground-out RBI.
 
That lead, however, would not last long as Pioneer lead-off batter Alysa Russell ripped a home run to tie the game in the bottom of the first.
 
In the second, the Pioneers capitalized on a pair of Houghton defensive miscues, scoring five unearned runs to go up 6-1.
 
Houghton threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases, but failed to push across a much-needed run.
 
Up 7-1, Utica plated two more unearned runs in the fifth to complete the victory.
 
Shattell picked up the only two hits for the Highlanders, going 2-for-3 but reaching base in all three plate appearances.  She also added a stolen base.
 
The Highlanders return to action on Tuesday, April 19 when they travel to SUNY Geneseo to take on the Knights in non-conference action at 3:00 p.m.