Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Softball team split a pair of games to No. 20 St. John Fisher College Sunday afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium on the Class of 2012 Recognition Day. In game one the Soaring Eagles completed a two-run come from behind win, 6-5, in the bottom of the seventh inning for its first Empire 8 victory. In game two the Cardinals were able to get the better hand scoring eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to prevail 11-5. The Cardinals move to 27-9 overall and 8-4 in Empire 8 play, while the Soaring Eagles move to 8-10 overall and 1-7 in conference competition.
 
In Game 1 the Purple and Gold were down most of the game, but were able to capitalize on its opportunities. The Cardinals got on the board right away scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Soaring Eagles were able to tie up the game in the bottom of the second thanks to Shannon Nelligan '14 (Poughquag, NY -- Canterbury) hitting a two-run home run over the left field fence. Fisher came out ready to hit in the top of third scoring three runs on two hits to take a 5-2 lead. EC was able to cut the deficit to two in the bottom of the fifth inning when Katie Dore '15 (Manchester, ME -- Maranacook) stole home on a passed ball. In the seventh Elmira was able to turn up the heat getting four hits in the inning. After an intentional walk to Mikayla Bean '14 (Williamson, NY -- Williamson), Katie Hobson '13 (Guilford, CT -- Guilford) came to the plate looking to hit in the game-winner. On the first pitch Fisher's Danielle Leone hit Hobson allowing Elmira to score the game winning run. Hobson pitched another complete game giving up two walks and nine hits to earn her fourth win of the season, while Leone finished the game with one walk and five strikeouts in her third loss of the season.   
 
In Game 2 the Soaring Eagles were able to keep it close for four innings until the Cardinals started to hit well and earn the win. EC was able to get on the board first in the second game when Dore hit a double to lead off the inning and later score on a passed ball. In the top of the fourth inning Fisher scored three runs on three hits to take the 3-1 lead. However, the Purple and Gold fought back in the bottom of the inning scoring two when Dore hit a single up the middle to score Sarah Johnson '15 (Sodus, NY -- Sodus) and Ashley Watkins '15 (Brownfield, ME -- Fryeburg Academy) scored later on a wild pitch. In the top of the fifth inning the Cardinals took off scoring five runs on five hits being led by Carissa Carlton with an RBI double and Sarah Fordyce with a two-run home run over the right field fence. Fisher was able to outscore Elmira 3-2 in the last two innings to cruise to an 11-5 win. Sarah Stefanon earned her eleventh win for the Cardinals pitching a complete game earning 10 strikeouts and giving up two walks. Johnson and Megan Anderson '15 (Little Falls, NJ -- Passaic Valley) split time on the mound for EC. Johnson pitched four and two-third innings giving up 10 hits and striking out three batters, while Anderson pitched two and one-third innings giving up five hits and striking out one batter.      
 
 Dore, Nelligan, Bean and Erin Pruess '12 (Glens Falls, NY -- Glens Falls) were the major offensive contributors for the Soaring Eagles. Dore led the team hitting 4-for-8 on the day scoring four runs, hitting two doubles and earning an RBI. Nelligan went 2-for-6 on the day hitting a two-run homerun and scoring a run in each game. Bean went 3-for-6 from the box hitting two doubles, scoring one run and earning a walk, while Pruess went 4-for-7 earning a stolen base, a walk and scoring a run.
 
The EC Softball team returns to action Wednesday, April 25^th when it travels to Madison, NJ to take on Drew University in non-conference action. First pitch at 3:00 p.m.