Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Softball team dropped a pair of games to visiting Ithaca College, 12-3 and 11-1, Saturday afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium. The wins improve the Bombers to 11-10 overall and 4-0 in Empire 8 play, while the losses drops the Soaring Eagles to 6-6 overall and 0-4 in conference competition.
 
EC couldn't find the offense in Game 1 against the high-powered attack from Ithaca. The Bombers outhit Elmira to an 11-1 lead after three innings as they cruised to a 12-3 victory. Ithaca finished with 16 hits in the game to six for Elmira. Mikayla Bean '14 (Williamson, NY -- Williamson) had a solid outing going 2-for-3 from the plate scoring once and knocking in two runs, while classmate Gillian Gravel '14 (Manchester, NH -- Trinity) also had two hits scoring a run. Katie Hobson '13 (Guilford, CT -- Guilford) pitched five innings for the Purple and Gold giving up 10 earned runs while walking two. Sam Bender pitched a complete game for the Bombers giving up six hits, three earned runs and struck out seven batters.
 
In Game 2 the Soaring Eagles played tough and hung in the game until Ithaca broke it open late scoring eight runs in the fifth and six innings for the 11-1 win. Katie Dore '15 (Manchester, ME -- Maranacook) led the EC attack going 3-for-3 with half of Elmira's hits, including scoring one run. Alex Andrade '13 (Fairhaven, MA -- Bishop Strong) also chipped in lacing a double down the left field line. Sarah Johnson '15 (Sodus, NY -- Sodus) went six innings giving up seven walks and striking out four batters for Elmira, while Lisa Bates earned the win allowing just one run over six innings while fanning four EC hitters.
 
The EC Softball team returns to action Sunday, April 15^th when it travels to take on Alfred University for a conference doubleheader starting at 5:00 p.m.