ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Classmates Nate Hanner '18 of the baseball team and Sarah Hughson '18 of the women's lacrosse team have been named Elmira College Athletes of the Week for their efforts during the week ending March 26.

Hanner helped the Soaring Eagles sweep Utica College in EC's home- and conference-opening games on a cold and wet Saturday at historic Dunn Field. Elmira, which was a month removed from its most recent contest due to unfavorable winter weather, exploded for a combined 28 hits in the twin bill to down the Pioneers 10-4 in the matinee and walk-off, 6-5, in the nightcap.

The junior third baseman finished the two-game set with a .444 batting average, going 4-for-9 with two doubles. His four hits were tied for the team lead, while his two extra-base hits and 5 RBIs were both team highs. Hanner tied career highs with three hits and a trio of RBIs in the first game, before doubling and plating two key runs in the afternoon bout.

In his first at-bat of the early game, Hanner drove in a pair of Soaring Eagles with a two-out hit on a 1-2 pitch, at the time extending Elmira's lead to 7-1. Then in the sixth, he doubled home another run on the first pitch. In the second game, the Genoa City, Wisconsin, native followed up Conor Bawiec '18 to put Elmira ahead, 3-1, with back-to-back two-out two-baggers. In the ninth, Hanner earned the game-tying RBI with a grounder up the middle, setting up Dennis Rudolph '18 for the walk-off in the following at-bat.

Through the first six games of the 2017 season, Hanner is hitting at a .333 clip (8-for-24) with a team-leading three doubles and 7 RBIs. He'll look to guide to guide the Soaring Eagles to victory again on Tuesday, March 28, when EC heads to Wells College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:00 p.m.

Hughson had a solid outing in a pair of non-conference games for the women's lacrosse team last week, which took on SUNY New Paltz in a mid-week matchup on the road, before hosting Cazenovia College on Saturday afternoon. She combined to record two points on one goal and one assist, in addition to 10 ground balls, seven caused turnovers, and three draw controls.

At New Paltz on March 23, Hughson assisted on a goal from Kyra McDonald '18, which equaled the score at 2-all early in the first half. Before the end of the period, the East Haddam, Connecticut, native netted a woman-up tally, sparking a 3-0 run that bridged into the second half and allowed the Soaring Eagles to tie the game at 5-5.

Despite not registering a point for the first time in 2017 against Cazenovia in Saturday's home opener, the third-year midfielder still managed to turn in a career performance. Hughson collected game and career highs with nine ground balls and seven caused turnovers versus the Wildcats. Her effort allowed the Soaring Eagles to cause a season-high 13 turnovers and scoop up 20-plus ground balls for the second consecutive game.

On the season, Hughson ranks among the Empire 8 Conference's leaders in both caused turnovers and ground balls. Her 3.00 caused turnovers per game are second, only behind teammate Kelcey Crawford '18 (3.33), while her 3.67 ground balls per contest are fourth-most in the league.

The Soaring Eagles will look to open Empire 8 play with their first win of the year, as EC travels to Ithaca College to take on the Bombers in its next game on Tuesday, March 28, at 4:00 p.m.