Nick Sampogna '18 hurled a pair of gems in his final two starts on the mound for the Purple and Gold in 2016. He won both of those starts, tossing 16.0 innings without giving up an earned run. He fanned a combined 16 batters throughout the week while, walking only four batsmen.
In the home portion of the series against Pitt-Bradford on May 3rd, the right-hander threw seven scoreless innings. Sampogna did not allow a runner to reach base safely in the first four innings, while he surrendered just three hits and one walk, before giving way to the bullpen in the 10-3 win.
The Verplanck, NY, native concluded the season with the first complete game of his career, scattering four hits and three walks throughout nine full frames in game one of the doubleheader against SUNY Canton. After giving up a pair of unearned runs in the first, he rebounded to retire the side in order in each of the next four innings. Sampogna also collected a career-high nine strikeouts in the victory.
Sampogna reinvented himself on the mound in his second season to become Elmira's ace and one of the top arms in the E8. The 5-foot-10 righty was sixth among qualified pitchers in the conference with a 2.90 ERA. His 62.0 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts ranked sixth and tied for fifth, respectively. Those totals, as well as his four wins, all represent single-season records for the young program.
While the Soaring Eagles fell just short of a bid to the Empire 8 Tournament, Bellinger and Sampogna helped the Purple and Gold ascend to new heights this season. The team doubled its win total from its inaugural season, ending the year with a 16-24 overall record.
