Score: Elmira College 6, Hilbert College 1
Score: Elmira College 10, Hilbert College 4
Records: Elmira (2-0), Hilbert (4-9)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College softball team opened the 2016 campaign on the right foot this evening, as the Soaring Eagles earned back-to-back non-conference wins over Hilbert College at Eldridge Park Stadium. Elmira used a five-run sixth inning to claim a 6-1 win in game one, before rolling to a 10-4 final in the nightcap.
 
Elmira wasted little time in game one to put the first run on the scoreboard, as the Soaring Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Julianne Heggie '16 led off the inning with a deep fly ball to center field, which looked harmless enough until Hilbert's Crystal Hailey fumbled the catch, allowing Heggie to reach on the error and advance to third.
 
On the ensuing at bat, Hilbert's starting pitcher Rachel Allen let one get away from her, as a wild pitch made its way to the backstop. Heggie put her speed to good use by darting for home plate and sliding underneath the tag for the score.
 
A leadoff double by Hilbert's Morgan Grosch in the top of the second inning set the table for a two-out RBI single by Alexandria Wankel, evening the game at one apiece.
 
Elmira had chances to take leads in the third and fifth innings, but was unable to drive in runs, as EC stranded a trio of base runners. On the flipside, Hilbert had a prime chance to score in the top of the sixth with a runner on second with just two outs. However, on the next at bat, game one starter Katie McDougal '18 able to get the strikeout, before getting next batter to hit a soft grounder to end the threat.
 
The Soaring Eagles blew the game wide open in the bottom half of the sixth, scoring five times to take a 6-1 lead. EC's five-run inning began with the Soaring Eagles reaching safely on their first six at bats, starting with a Jacquelyn Heggie '16 double to center field. Heggie advanced to third on a wild pitch, while EC's next batter Miranda Keefe '18 walked, setting up one of the day's most exciting plays.
 
After ball four was called, Keefe made a heads up play to run to second with the Hilbert defense unaware of the attempt. By the time the Hawks saw Keefe heading for second, Heggie broke for home, forcing a play at the plate. The speedy Heggie slid underneath the tag for the score, while Keefe stood safely on the second.
 
Four additional runs crossed the plate in the sixth on RBIs by Katie Day '16, Emily Clark '19, Chelsea Storch '17, and Hannah Vignone '19, which all but sealed EC's five-run win. Elmira's starting pitcher, McDougal, finished with five strikeouts in the complete game victory.
 
The Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two, but Elmira answered the bottom half of the with two runs. Julianne Heggie scored the first run, stealing third base and home on the same play, which was followed by an RBI groundout by Day that drove in Maddy Johnson '19.
 
Elmira added a run in the third on another RBI by Day, before scoring three more in the fourth. Johnson drove in two runs in the fourth and scored the other on a wild pitch to give EC a 6-1 lead.
 
Hilbert tallied twice in the top of the fifth, but once again Elmira had the answer with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning. Carolyn Corcoran '19 drove in the first run for Elmira on a hard hit single to left center to bring in Sam Chadbourne '19. Corcoran scored shortly after on a sacrifice fly to give the Soaring Eagles a hefty 8-3 advantage.
 
The top of the sixth inning saw the Hawks attempt a comeback, as Hilbert loaded the bases with one out. EC's starting pitcher Marisa Bernardi '18 weathered the storm, allowing just one run before closing out the inning with a four-run lead.
 
Elmira pushed its lead to 10-4 in the bottom of the sixth, as Jacquelyn Heggie and Clark scored runs. Hilbert hoped to rally in the top of the seventh when it placed runners on second and third with just one out. However, Bernardi would get the next two batters to fly out, sealing a six-run win for the Purple and Gold.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Elmira and Hilbert both finished with six hits.
• EC committed two errors, while the Hawks finished with one defensive miscue.
• Six different Elmira hitters collected a hit in the opener.
• Julianne Heggie finished 1-for-2 with triple, a run scored, and two walks.
• Johnson finished 1-for-4 with an RBI.
• Jacquelyn Heggie went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and a stolen base.
• Day went 1-for-3 with an RBI-double and a run scored.
• Clark finished 1-for-3 with an RBI-single and a run scored.
• Storch went 1-for-2 with a walk, scoring one run and driving in one RBI.
• Keefe finished with two walks and a run scored.
• McDougal collected her first win of the season, going all seven innings.
• McDougal allowed six hits and one run, while she struck out five Hawk batters.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Elmira outhit Hilbert 11-to-7 in game two.
• Defensive miscues plagued both teams in the night cap, as EC finished with five errors, while the Hawks committed three mistakes in the field.
• Eight different Soaring Eagles collected hits.
• Johnson had a monster game, going 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs. The EC outfielder also added three stolen bases.
• Chadbourne finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored in her collegiate debut.
• Day went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs, before exiting the game in the bottom of the third.
• Corcoran went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single and two runs scored her rookie debut.
• Jacquelyn Heggie went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.
• Although not recording a hit, Julianne Heggie scored two runs and collected one RBI, while she also swiped two more bags in game two.
• Olivia Harnois '19 and Keefe collected the other two Elmira hits.
• Like McDougal in game one, Bernardi went the distance in the pitching circle for Elmira in game two. She allowed seven hits, while all four of the Hawks runs were unearned.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 21-7 in home-opening doubleheaders dating back to 2003.
• EC also increased its wins in season-opening games to 15-11 since the 2003 season.
• The Soaring Eagles have won 13 straight against Hilbert and possess a 13-1 all-time series record.
• McDougal picked up her first collegiate win, while her five strikeouts were a career high.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action this Friday, April 1st, when the Soaring Eagles open conference play with a doubleheader against Houghton College. The first of two games is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.