Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College softball team earned a non-conference split in their home-opening doubleheader against Alfred State College. The Soaring Eagles dropped the first game 4-2, but rolled in the second game to a 9-0, five-inning victory.
 
Ashley Palmer '16 had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored. She had a pair of hits in both games and helped EC break open the second game with a two-RBI single in the fourth inning. Also having a strong home debut was local product Hannah Lundgren '18. Lundgren 3-for-5 at the plate and had a RBI in each game for EC.
 
Both starting pitchers for the Soaring Eagles, Katie McDougal '18 and Kelsey Condidorio '18, posted quality starts against the Pioneers. McDougal gave up four runs, two of which were earned, in 5.2 innings in game one, while Condidorio pitched four shutout innings, allowing just two hits, in the game two win.
 
Game One: Alfred State 4, Elmira 2
EC got the scoring started in game one as Lundgren singled home Palmer to put EC up 1-0 after two innings of play. McDougal was cruising along, allowing just two hits through the first three innings, but Alfred State would even the score in the top of the fourth inning after a Julianne Heggie '16 throw of what could have been an inning-ending double play tipped off the glove of Emily Carlin '17 and allowed the tying run to score.
 
The Purple and Gold retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, making it 2-1 heading into the final two innings. EC loaded the bases with one out and pushed one run across on Katie Day's sacrifice fly. Elmira looked to add to their lead with Carlin at the plate, but she would groundout, leaving the Heggie twins on second and third.
 
It turns out that the Soaring Eagles would have needed the extra runs as Alfred State would score the deciding runs in the next half inning. McDougal got two quick outs, but the Pioneers would produce a two-out rally that would lead to three runs and the deciding 4-2 advantage.
 
Game Two: Elmira 9, Alfred State 0 (F/5)
The Soaring Eagles came out firing on all cylinders in the second game. Condidorio was given the ball for game two and retired the first six Pioneer batters in order. EC then scored three runs in each of the second, third, and fourth innings to make it a 9-0 game.
 
Lundgren led off the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle and then later scored on a Condidorio single into right field. Chelsea Storch '18, who singled after Lundgren, scored on a wild pitch and then Condidorio brought home Storch in a RBI groundout.
 
An error allowed Julianne Heggie to give EC a baserunner to open up the third inning. The next batter, Palmer, would bring Heggie home with a long double to left center field. Carlin would also double with a line drive to left field, advancing Palmer to third base. Palmer would then score on a RBI groundout by Lundgren and Carlin would score on a sac fly by Storch, making it a 6-0 game.
 
Then, leading off the fourth inning, Jacquelyn Heggie hit a ground rule double to left field, putting a runner in scoring position. Julianne Heggie singled and then was part of a double steal moving both players into scoring position. Palmer hit a hard single to left field, bringing both of the Heggies around to score and then advanced to second base on an error by the left fielder. Palmer would later touch home on an error by the shortstop.
 
Marisa Bernardi '18 entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and set down Alfred State in order to seal the Elmira victory.
 
EC welcomes No. 23 Alfred University to Eldridge Park Stadium tomorrow for an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader. The first of the two games is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.