Score: Elmira College 10 – Hilbert College 9
Score: Hilbert College 8 – Elmira College 5
Records: Elmira (6-10), Hilbert (5-7)
Location: Dunn Field – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College baseball team wrapped up its season opening homestand on Thursday afternoon, splitting an afternoon twin-bill against Hilbert College at a blustery Dunn Field. The Soaring Eagles stormed back from a large early deficit to take the opening game of doubleheader by a 10-9 final score. The Hawks were able to hold off an Elmira charge in the nightcap to deal the Purple and Gold an 8-5 loss.
 
The two teams kicked off the week-day set with a wild back-and-forth contest in the opening game of the afternoon. Although EC was playing in the friendly home confines of Dunn Field, Hilbert enjoyed the benefits of the final at-bat, representing the home team in both games. The Hawks wasted little time in gaining the early edge off of Elmira's game one starter Davis Salzman '18.
 
Hilbert's bats came out on fire with its first six batters reaching base; five by way of a hit. Paul Wujek and Anthony Wurstner opened the game with back-to-back singles, while both advanced 90-feet on a wild pitch. Hawks' catcher Ryan Bonafede bounced a single up the middle to drive home the game's first run, while Kevin Moore was plunked in the back to load the bases with nobody out. Joshua Maier followed with a double Just inside the third-base bag to bring home two more Hawk runs. Sal Carroccia joined the hit parade with a single to left to make the score 4-0, with Hilbert runners still occupying first and third.
 
Salzman began to work out of the jam when he induced a 6-4-3 double play, while Maier was sent back to third base on an interference call. Unfortunately, the second-year righty was unable to strand the runner, as Tristan Aldinger bounced an infield single deep into the hole at short to cap the scoring at 5-0.
 
Elmira wasted little time in answering the Hilbert outburst in the first, pushing across to runs in the top of the second. Nick Sampogna '18 set the table with a one-out walk, while Brian Wehmeyer '16 followed with a ground-single through the hole between third and short. EC looked sure to score a run during the following at-bat, as Will Jenkins '18 launched a line drive into the left centerfield gap; however, Hilbert's centerfielder made a great play to cut off the ball and start a relay to cut down Sampogna at the plate. Cameron Heggie '18 ensured the Soaring Eagles did not come out of the inning empty-handed, ripping a single up the middle to bring home Wehmeyer and Jenkins.
 
Salzman settled in during the second retiring the Hawks quickly in order, bringing the Elmira bats back to the plate. The Soaring Eagles stayed hot, scoring two more in the third to cut the deficit to a single run at 5-4. Rey Colon '18 got things going with a leadoff single just inside the line in left. Conor Bawiec '18 followed with a double into the right center gap to bring home Colon, while he advanced to third base on a misplay by the Hawks' outfielder. Rudolph brought home Bawiec with a lined single to left.
 
Elmira turned to its bullpen in the fourth, sending rookie Nick Cottone '19 to the mound. The Hawks were able to scratch across a run to boost their lead to 6-4. Aldinger opened the inning reaching on a hit-by-pitch, while he quickly swiped second base. He moved to third on a ground out to the right side, before coming home on a Wujek double.
 
The Soaring Eagles resiliency was showcased yet again in the top of the sixth, as the Purple and Gold pushed across five runs to snatch its first lead of the afternoon. Jenkins got the rally started with a single down the leftfield line, before being lifted for Rob Simpson '16 to pinch run. Heggie and Bryce Plante '18 followed with infield singles to load the bases. Elmira got a little help from the Hilbert defense, as Colon reached on a throwing error to keep the EC train moving. Dylan Bellinger '17 made the Hawks pay in the following at-bat, driving a line drive through a stiff headwind off the centerfield fence. The double cleared the bases, giving Elmira its first lead of the day at 8-6. Rudolph capped the rally with a RBI-single to left center.
 
Every run proved pivotal, as Hilbert did not go down quietly. Aldinger continued to be a thorn in Elmira's side, leading off the bottom of the sixth with a triple to right. He came home on a sacrifice fly to cut EC's lead to 9-7. The top of the Hawks' order kept the rally going as Wujek walked and a single by Wurstner put the tying runs on base. The bases were subsequently loaded, as Bonafede drew a walk.
 
The Soaring Eagles turned to Bawiec to lock down the inning. Although he allowed one inherited runner to score, he was able to preserve the lead with a ground out and strikeout.
 
The Soaring Eagles got a much needed insurance run in the seventh, as Colon drove in Wehmeyer with an RBI-single to left. The 10^th run proved to be huge, as Hilbert pushed Bawiec to the brink in the home half of the inning. With the bases chalked full Hawks, the EC righty got a pop-up to Plante at short to the end the game.
 
The second game got off to an eerily similar start to the first, as Hilbert again pushed across a crooked number in the bottom half of the first inning. The Hawks plated six runs on Elmira starter Dennis Rudolph '18, although only two of the runs were earned, as EC committed two defensive miscues that proved most costly in the frame.
 
EC showed its classic persistence to battle back in the contest. Bellinger continued his big afternoon with another RBI-double to center, while he later scored on a wild pitch. The Soaring Eagles pushed across two more in the fifth on a Rudolph RBI-double and a Wehmeyer RBI-single, but that was as close as Elmira could get in the 8-5 loss.

In His Own Words…
Head Coach Corey Paluga on his team's resiliency in today's doubleheader…
"The one thing we talked about at the end was the team's resiliency. It would have been very easy for us to just tuck our tails and just coast through the motions in each of those games, after spotting Hilbert crooked numbers in the first inning of each game. But our hitters did a great job of staying engaged at the plate. They strung some hits and runs together and the energy that they provided kind of spread and allowed everybody to play loose throughout the day."
 
Paluga on Elmira's five-run sixth inning to take the lead in the opener…
"I thought our approach was great in that inning. We talk all the time about being able to make adjustments based on how pitchers have been attacking us. They had several guys go in each of the games, but I thought our hitters did an excellent job of communicating and making those little adjustments, especially in that sixth inning."
 
Paluga on keeping things simple…
"I think what our guys have really grown a greater understanding of as the season has progressed is keeping things simple. We are the type of team that likes to get on base and do some aggressive things with our base runners, but everything stems from getting those runners on in the first place."
 
Paluga on Bellinger's impact on the offense…
"He's seeing the ball so well right now. Dylan has done a really great job of making an adjustment with his hands, which has paid big dividends recently. He understands that with his place in the middle of our order that he is not always going to see a lot of fastballs, but when he does get one he has been very proactive in attacking that pitch. He's obviously going to be a big part of the offense moving forward and I can't say enough about how he has developed as a hitter over the last two years."
 
Paluga on toying with the lineup…
"Today was a great opportunity to play some young guys and getting a chance to see what they can do and what they can handle. Obviously, we want to win every game we play in, but the non-conference slate gives a chance to continue to build depth and get experience in game situations. Our conference is very difficult and we are going to need many more guys than just our starting nine to be able to provide valuable contributions at various times."
 
Paluga on the Utica series this weekend…
"When we play our game and are executing the little things I think we have shown that we are a difficult team for anybody to contend with. This weekend provides another opportunity against a strong conference opponent and I think that if our guys execute the results will turn in our favor."
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Elmira outhit Hilbert 15-to-12 in the opener.
• EC held a 14-to-6 advantage in hits from the second inning on.
• Hilbert committed three defensive miscues, while Elmira was charged with a single error.
• Elmira had 8-of-9 starters collect hits in the first game of the day.
• Bawiec led the team with three hits, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, one run scored, and one RBI.
• Bellinger bashed a pair of doubles in going 2-for-4. He finished with three RBIs and one run scored.
• Colon had a strong game, going 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI singles and two runs scored.
• Rudolph added a pair of RBI base-knocks and two stolen bases in a 2-for-4 effort.
• Jenkins finished 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
• Heggie went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
• Plante (1-for-4, R) and Wehmeyer (1-for-3, 2R) collected the other Elmira hits.
• Salzman went 3.0 innings, allowing seven hits and five runs, all earned.
• Cottone picked up his first collegiate victory, going 2.1 innings, while allowing three runs on three hits.
• Bawiec picked up his first save of the season, working 1.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits, while also striking out two Hawks.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Elmira outhit Hilbert 9-to-8 in the nightcap.
• Five of the Hawks' eight hits came in the first inning, as Hilbert got off to another fast start.
• Elmira committed three errors, while Hilbert finished with two defensive miscues.
• Eight different Elmira batters collected hits in the second game.
• Wehmeyer had the Soaring Eagles' lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
• Heggie finished 1-for-3, while he scored three of EC's five runs.
• Bellinger finished 1-for-4 with an RBI-double and a run scored. He also had two fly outs that would have easily been home runs on any other day, but a stiff 25-30 mph wind knocked on both deep fly balls at the warning track in centerfield.
• Rudolph went 1-for-4 with an RBI-double and a run scored.
• Bawiec also finished 1-for-4.
• Matt van Muelken '18 (1-for-3), Josh Haines '18 (1-for-2) and Nick Sampogna (1-for-2) notched the other Elmira hits.
• Rudolph went 2.0 innings in his shortest start of the year. He allowed seven runs, only two of which were earned, while he struck out two.
• Mike Ladka '16 allowed one run on one hit in 2.0 innings of work.
• Blake Phelps '19 struck out two batters in 2.0 scoreless frames.

 
News and Notes

• It is the second straight season in which Elmira earned a doubleheader split with Hilbert.
• Elmira is now 2-2 all-time against the Hawks.
• EC has earned a split in two of its five doubleheaders this season.
• Bellinger collected three more doubles on the afternoon, bringing his season total to eight. He has collected at least one two-bagger in each of his last five games against non-conference opponents.
• Bawiec collected hits in both games to extend his streak of getting on-base to 26 consecutive games.
• Giving up early runs continued to plague EC in both games this afternoon. The Soaring Eagles have allowed runs in the first inning in three consecutive games. Overall, Elmira has allowed 33 runs in the first innings of games this season, 29.7% of the team's total of 111 runs relinquished.
• Cottone picked up his first collegiate win in game one.
• Bawiec collected his first collegiate save.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action this weekend when it resumes Empire 8 Conference play when it hits the road to face Utica College in a three-game set. The Soaring Eagles face the Pioneers in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2^nd.