Empire 8 Release

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Empire 8 Conference rewarded Nick Sampogna '18 of the Elmira College baseball team for his victory on Saturday against Utica College by naming the third-year right-hander the E8 Pitcher of the Week, as announced on Monday afternoon.

During Saturday's home- and conference-opening doubleheader against the Pioneers, Sampogna picked up the win on the mound in the matinee. He threw 69 pitches in 5.0 solid innings, surrendering just one run on two hits and two walks, while striking out a career-high-tying nine batsmen.

A product of Verplanck, New York, Sampogna settled in and was nearly unhittable after the first inning, in which he walked a pair and gave up his lone run. After allowing a sacrifice fly in opening frame, he retired the following eight batters and struck out the side in order in both the third and fifth innings. The only Pioneer to reach base against Sampogna after the first inning was Tim Quinlan, who led off the top of the fourth with an infield single.

Sampogna, who emerged as Elmira's ace during a breakout sophomore campaign, received the Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week Award for the second time in his career. On the season, he sports a 1-1 record with 13 strikeouts in 16.1 innings of work. He also leads all qualifying pitchers in the league with a paltry .158 opposing batting average.

The Elmira baseball team is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 28, in a non-conference doubleheader against the Express of Wells College in Aurora, New York. First pitch for game one is slated for 3:00 p.m.