Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  
Elmira, NY -- After making the long trek from Hoboken, NJ to Elmira last night, the Elmira College softball team (4-8, 1-3 E8) put forth a great effort in both of today's Empire 8 contests against Ithaca College (15-7, 4-2 E8) at home this afternoon.  The Soaring Eagles clipped the Bombers of Ithaca in game one 1-0 but were edged in the nightcap, falling 3-1 in 11 innings.
 
Elmira's pitching duo of Alex Puglisi '14 and Emilie Rogers '14 shined today as the two EC hurlers combined for six strikeouts and a 0.00 earned run average as all of the Bombers' runs this afternoon were unearned.  Puglisi registered the win in game one, tossing a complete game shutout while Rogers pitched 7.2 innings in game two, not allowing a single hit.
 
At the plate, EC was led by leadoff hitter Katie Dore '15 who went 4-for-8 today with two doubles and a run scored.  Classmates Mikayla Bean '14 and Puglisi drove in Elmira's only two runs of the day. 
 
Game One – Elmira 1, Ithaca 0
Game one was a pitcher's duel as the first five innings passed without a single run being scored.  Both teams had chances to breakthrough, with Ithaca stranding a runner on third in the top of the second inning and leaving another pair of runners on base in the top of the fifth, while Elmira had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth with one out, only to see all three runners left on base.
 
Elmira landed the game's first and only punch in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Rookie Emily Carlin '17 got things started with two-out double, allowing speedster Julianne Heggie '16 to pinch run. Ashley Palmer '16 kept the inning going with a five-pitch walk before Ithaca recorded another out.  With two outs, Bean would bring home the eventual game-winning run as her hit to center field allowed Heggie to slide past the Ithaca catcher for the game's only run.
 
In the top half of the seventh, Puglisi allowed the leadoff batter to reach on a hot-shot up the middle, but the crafty veteran would close the door on Ithaca as she retired the next three batters, sealing Elmira's 1-0 win.   
 
Game Two – Ithaca 3, Elmira 1 (11 innings)
Elmira had a chance to take an early lead in game two as Dore led off the bottom of the first with a double and would advance to third on sacrifice bunt by Bean.  However, the Soaring Eagles were unable to capitalize as the next two batters grounded and popped out.
 
Ithaca also had a chance in the fourth inning to take the lead.  With two outs and a runner on third, EC starting pitcher Rogers would get Ithaca's Kelly Robichaud to lineout to Bean at third base, keeping things scoreless through four. 
 
The next three innings would be uneventful as only one hit between the two teams would be registered, resulting in a 0-0 tie through seven innings, forcing extra innings.  Ithaca got on the scoreboard first in the eighth inning, a run that was scored by tagging up on a fly ball to left field.
 
Then, in the next half inning, Dore ignited the EC rally with a one-out double down the left field line.  On the next at-bat, Ithaca would get Bean to ground out to third, putting the Bombers just one out away from the win.  However, Head Coach Rhonda Faunce would bring in Puglisi to pinch hit, a move that would pay dividends when Puglisi slapped an RBI single to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Fast-forward to the 10th inning.  Elmira started the inning with Krystal Bupp '14 on second base but a pair of suspect calls halted EC's hopes of a game-winning hit as the Soaring Eagles were called for batter's interference and a runner leaving early.  The two calls, combined with a fly-out, resulted in a quick three outs.
 
Ithaca did their damage in the top of the 11th as a sacrifice bunt brought a run home from third and a fielding error in the outfield by Elmira resulted in another Ithaca run, giving the Bombers a 3-1 lead.  Elmira put two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning, but were unable to bring them home as the Bombers walked away with a 3-1 win.
 
Elmira will be back in action tomorrow as they play their third doubleheader in as many days when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on Empire 8 foe Alfred University.  The first of two games is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.