KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College softball team had a combined 27 hits on Saturday as the Wolves swept an Empire 8 doubleheader against Utica College.

Keuka College (5-11, 5-11 Empire 8) defended their home field in dramatic fashion, winning game one 4-3 on a walkoff single in the tenth inning. The Wolves then topped the Pioneers 10-7 in game two for the sweep.

Keuka College 4 vs. Utica College 3 (10 innings) – Game 1

The Pioneers struck first as they worked a bases-loaded walk in the second and added a run on an RBI single in the third. The Wolves would plate three in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.

Emily VanDeliner led the inning off with a single. Jordan Cole followed that with a double. After a Kelsey Mohl sacrifice fly scored VanDeliner, Shelby Burgess singled to score Cole. Heleana Hill added a single to center with two outs. Burgess crossed home plate before Utica got the third out of the inning at third base to count the run and give the Wolves a 3-2 lead.

That held until the top of the sixth when Utica tied the game on an RBI double. The Pioneers threatened in the seventh with a runner on third and one out, but Whitney Tyler got a strikeout and flyout to escape the inning.

Utica had a chance to take the lead in the ninth, trying to score from second on a single to center. Danielle Bosch fielded it cleanly in center and threw a strike to Abby Kruse behind the plate to get the runner.

The Wolves would end it in the tenth. Using the tiebreak rule, Keuka started with a runner on second. With one out, Jordan Cole singled to put runners at the corners. Samantha Cook followed that with a single of her own to score Kruse and give the Wolves a 4-3 walkoff victory.

Lead Wolf: Emily VanDelinder and Danielle Bosch paced the Keuka College offense with three hits apiece. It set a new career-high for VanDelinder and tied the high-water mark for Bosch.

Keuka College 10 vs. Utica College 7 – Game 2

After the long game one, Keuka College wasted no time getting on the board in game two. Heleana Hill led it off with a single. She moved to third on a pair of outs and scored on a single by Emily VanDelinder to make it 1-0.

The Wolves added to their lead in the third as Keuka loaded the bases. Hayley Gorges then delivered a two-out hit, scoring Jordan Cole and Abby Kruse to increase the Keuka College lead to 3-0.

The Pioneers took the lead with five runs in the top of the fifth, but the Wolves answered right back with a five-spot of their own in the bottom of the inning. Danielle Bosch had an RBI single for the Green and Gold. Abby Kruse and Emily VanDelinder each had two-rbi doubles as Keuka regained its three run lead, 8-5.

Keuka added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Utica matched those two runs in the top of the inning, but Emily VanDelinder shut the door as Keuka College won game two 10-7, sweeping the doubleheader.

Lead Wolf: Emily VanDelinder did it all in game two. The freshman had a pair of hits, drove in three runs, and earned the win in the circle. She moved from first base to pitcher in the fifth inning and held Utica to just two runs over 2.2 innings. She struck out a pair of batters in just her second career pitching appearance.

KC Notes:

• The Wolves improve to 8-16 all-time against Utica College. Keuka has won three straight over the Pioneers
• The win in game one snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Wolves
• Cook's walkoff single was the first walkoff hit for the Wolves since Alysha Bachman hit a walkoff single to defeat Cazenovia College in 2016
• Whitney Tyler went the distance for the Wolves in game one, pitching all 10 innings. She tied Marianne Wallace for the most innings pitched in a home game in program history. Wallace went all 10 when Keuka hosted D'Youville in 2005
• Tyler became just the fifth pitcher in program history to surpass 200 career strikeouts. The senior stuck out eight Pioneers in game one.
• Keuka College had a season-high 16 hits in game one
• Four different Wolves had a pair of hits in game two. Abby Kruse, Emily VanDelinder, Jordan Cole, and Hayley Gorges all contributed to Keuka's 11 team hits in the game.

Up Next for Keuka College: The Green and Gold will look to ride the momentum as they go into another Empire 8 doubleheader on Tuesday. Keuka College will travel to Elmira College to face the Soaring Eagles. First pitch is set for 3pm.