Elmira College (2-0, 0-0 E8) vs. Houghton College (5-11, 0-0 E8)
Friday, April 1, 2016 | 3:30 & 5:30 P.M. | Houghton Softball Field – Houghton, NY
Live Coverage
 
Elmira College (2-0, 0-0 E8) vs. Alfred University (8-4, 0-0 E8)
Saturday, April 2, 2016 | 1:00 & 3:00 P.M. | Harrington Field – Alfred, NY
Live Coverage
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College softball team will look to build on its 2-0 start to the 2016 season, as the Soaring Eagles travel to take on Houghton College and Alfred University in Empire 8 action this weekend. Elmira faces Houghton in its conference opener on Friday, April 1st, at 3:30 p.m., before taking on the reigning Empire 8 champs, Alfred, the following afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira is fresh off a pair of wins in its season opener against non-conference foe Hilbert College. The Soaring Eagles used a five-run sixth inning to score a 6-1 win over the Hawks in game one, before rolling to a 10-4 victory in the nightcap. Katie McDougal '18 struck out five batters in game one to earn her first collegiate win, while Katie Day '16 and Maddy Johnson '19 paced the Soaring Eagle offense in game two with two RBIs apiece.
 
Solid Start for Johnson
Rookie outfielder Maddy Johnson '19 began her collegiate career in impressive form last Wednesday against Hilbert. Johnson started both games, going 4-for-8 from the dish with one extra base hit and three RBIs. The freshman talent also showcased her speed by swiping three bases and scoring three runs.
 
Scouting Houghton
The Highlanders opened the 2016 campaign by winning three of their first four games but have since dropped nine of their last 11, bringing their record to 5-11. Houghton enters today's doubleheader looking to snap an eight-game skid and will hope to do so in its first home contests of the year. Three players are batting over .300 for Houghton this year, led by freshman Taylor Sile's .364 average. Sile has 16 hits, five of which went for extra bases, and shares the team-lead in RBIs with fellow freshman Nicole Fata (11). Sile is also Houghton's go-to-option in the pitcher's circle, as the Hilton, NY, native has tossed a team-high 37.2 innings with 26 strikeouts. Tanya Hatton has also seen substantial time in the circle as well, pitching 30.1 innings with 22 strikeouts.  
 
All-Time Series vs. Houghton
Since 2012, Elmira and Houghton have faced each other eight times. The Soaring Eagles own a 7-1 all-time series record against the Highlanders; however, Houghton has the most recent win in the series, a 5-4 victory at Eldridge Park Stadium in 2015.
 
Scouting Alfred
The reigning Empire 8 Conference champs enter the weekend with an 8-4 record and are riding a three-game winning streak. The Saxons sport a team batting average of .307, led by Liz Thompson and Sophia Chiavatti, who are both hitting above .400 on the year. Thompson, a 2015 NFCA Second Team All-American, paces Alfred with a .417 average to go along with a team-leading .542 slugging percentage; Chiavatti is hitting .412 this season with a team-high 11 RBIs. Shannon Schaefer and Kerri Keller have split pitching duties this season, combing for 68.1 innings pitched. Schaefer owns a 4-1 record with two shutouts to her name, while Keeler has picked up two wins and has fanned a team-high 24 batters.
 
All-Time Series vs. Alfred
Elmira and Alfred have a rich history between them, having met 44 times leading up to this Saturday's doubleheader. Alfred holds a slight edge in the all-time series , 22-21-1.
 
Looking Ahead
Following this weekend's conference doubleheaders, Elmira returns to action on Thursday, April 7th, when the Soaring Eagles host Alfred State in a non-league twinbill. The opening pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Eldridge Park Stadium in Elmira, NY.