Elmira College (1-5) at Penn State-Harrisburg (8-10)
Friday, March 18, 2016 | 3:30 P.M. | Penn State-Harrisburg Baseball Field – Middletown, PA
 
Elmira College (1-5) at Penn State-Abington (4-8)
Saturday, March 19, 2016 | 12:00 & 2:00 P.M. | Alverthorpe Park – Jenkintown, PA
 
Live Coverage
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College baseball team looks to keep the bats hot when it makes its second swing through Pennsylvania in as many weeks this weekend. The Soaring Eagles kick off the trip with a single game at Penn State-Harrisburg at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 18^th. EC returns to action the following day when it faces Penn State-Abington in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira salvaged last weekend's trip to the Keystone State with a record-setting performance on Sunday against the University of Valley Forge. After dropping both ends of a doubleheader against Eastern University the day before, Elmira put it all together on the mound and in the batter's box, routing the Patriots 31-2. The 31 runs obliterated Elmira's previous program record for runs scored in a single contest (14). EC swatted 26 hits in the contest, led by Cameron Heggie '18 and Dennis Rudolph '18 with five hits apiece. Mike Ladka '16 and Rudolph launched two doubles and five RBIs apiece. Rudolph got the start on the mound and was efficient in five scoreless innings of work. He limited Valley Forge to just two hits, striking out a career-high six batters, to notch Elmira's first win of the season.
 
Rudolph Collects Program's First Empire 8 Weekly Honor
Second-year righty Dennis Rudolph '18 collected another first for the fledgling Elmira baseball program when he was named Empire 8 Player of the Week by the league office on Monday. He is the first EC baseball player to garner a weekly award for the conference. The Glen Ellyn, IL, native fired five scoreless innings in his lone appearance on the bump this past week against Valley Forge, posting a new career high with six strikeouts. Perhaps more impressive was his work with the bat. He went 8-for-11 during the weekend road swing, collecting at least one hit in all three contests. Rudolph's best game came during his pitching start, as he helped his own cause with five hits in six at-bats, slugging a pair of doubles and driving in five runs. The five hits and five RBIs both tied for new single-game program highs.
 
Bullpen Bounces Back
Elmira's relief pitching was one area of concern coming out of its spring training trip, but the bullpen acquitted itself in a big way this past weekend. EC relievers combined to throw 11.1 innings in the three contests, allowing 11 hits and four earned runs, while striking out four. Most important to the bullpen's overall success was its control, as the staff only issued one walk and one hit batter during those innings of work. Nick Sampogna '18 posted perhaps the best outing of his Elmira career in relief of starter Andy Reed '19 in the opening game of the doubleheader against Eastern University. The righty tossed 5.1 innings of one-run ball, relinquishing five hits and fanning two batters. Joe Marigliano '17, Davis Salzman '18, Nick Cottone '19 and Blake Phelps '19 each posted scoreless appearances over the course of the weekend.
 
Lumber Company
Elmira currently leads the Empire 8 Conference in team batting average with a .309 mark through its first six games of the year. Although it is early in the year, nine Elmira hitters hold averages above .300 heading into the weekend, with six of those hitters having more than 10 at-bats. Rudolph leads the way with the conference's top average at .625, slugging 10 hits in 16 at-bats. Interestingly enough, Elmira's two top returning hitters, Dylan Bellinger '18 and Hayden Rothenberg '17, have not gotten in on early season hit parade, as the duo have only combined for five hits in 35 at-bats. Elmira will look to continue its offensive surge this weekend.
 
Scouting Penn State-Harrisburg
Penn State-Harrisburg has gotten off to a busy start to the season, as the Lions will already be playing in their 20^th game of the season when they take the field against the Soaring Eagles this Friday. The team has had a middling start, as it enters the weekend with an 8-11 overall record, which includes a 1-3 mark in Capital Athletic Conference play. The highlight of the season to-date was a 4-3 victory over then-eighth ranked Frostburg State on March 12^th. The Lions are coming off difficult 16-13 loss on Wednesday afternoon to Marymount University. Penn State-Harrisburg held three separate leads in the contest; however, the contest slipped away late as the Saints posted a seven-run bottom of the eighth. The Lions responded with four in the top of the ninth, but it would not be enough as Penn State-Harrisburg came up short for the third time over its last four contests. Kevin Kremer leads the team among everyday players with 22 hits (.314 BA), which included four doubles and one homer, while he also is the top RBI-man with 14 on the young season. Harrisburg's pitching staff has been relatively strong from top-to-bottom despite a 5.08 team earned-run-average. Bobby Patterson has been the Lions' top starter going 3-1 in four starts, posting a solid 3.66 ERA. Brendan Riotto has been lights-out in the bullpen, carrying a 1.08 ERA in seven relief appearances.
 
Scouting Penn State-Abington
Penn State-Abington got off to a slow start to the season, but has bounced back in recent contests. The Lions dropped their first six contests of the season, but enter the weekend winners of three straight. Abington put together its most complete effort in its most recent contest, a 9-3 victory over Susquehanna University on March 10^th. The Lions exploded for a five-spot in the third inning of the game to coast to the lopsided win. Matt Meyers paces the team with a .441 average and 15 hits, six of them going for doubles. Anthony Pletscher has the team's lone homer. Diego Melendez is the team's top starter, as he carries a 4.74 ERA and one complete game on the year. Greg Mugnier has been strong as a late-inning option, posting a 1.80 ERA and one save.
 
Looking Ahead
Elmira baseball wraps-up its long road swing to begin the season when it faces Medaille College in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 23^rd. First pitch of the opening game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.