Utica, NY – The Elmira College Softball team dropped a pair of games to host Utica College, 11-1 and 12-7, Thursday evening in Utica. The wins improve the Pioneers to 22-15 overall and 4-6 in Empire 8 play, while the losses drop the Soaring Eagles to 8-16 overall and 2-10 in conference competition.
 
Elmira struggled in Game 1 scoring its lone run in the second inning, while Utica combined for 11 runs in the first, second and fourth innings. Shannon Nelligan '14 (Poughquag, NY -- Canterbury) led EC going 2-for-2 and scoring one run, while Gillian Gravel '14 (Manchester, NH -- Trinity) was also perfect at the plate as she went 1-for-1 with the lone Soaring Eagle RBI. Katie Dore '15 (Manchester, ME -- Maranacook) tallied Elmira's other hit as she laced a double and went 1-for-3. Katie Hobson '13 (Guilford, CT -- Guilford) pitched three innings for the Purple and Gold giving up nine earned runs, striking out and walking one batter each. Megan Anderson '15 (Little Falls, NJ -- Passaic Valley) gave up one hit and no runs in an inning of relief work.
 
In Game 2 the Pioneers got out to a sizzling start, tallying nine runs in the first two innings. EC responded with five runs in the second and third innings but couldn't overcome the large deficit as it ultimately fell, 12-7. Dore and Krystal Bupp '14 (Bellmawr, NJ -- Triton Regional) paced Elmira with two hits and two runs scored apiece. Erin Pruess '12 (Glens Falls, NY – Glens Falls) doubled for the Purple and Gold while Nelligan and Sarah Johnson '15 (Sodus, NY -- Sodus) each added singles and an RBI. Johnson went six strong on the mound walking six and striking out seven batters.
 
The EC Softball team concludes its season Sunday when it hosts Nazareth College in a doubleheader at Eldridge Park Stadium starting at 1:00 p.m.