Score: Elmira College 13, Houghton College 7
Score: Elmira College 10, Houghton College 5
Records: Elmira (4-0, 2-0 E8), Houghton (5-13, 0-2 E8)
Location: Houghton Softball Field – Houghton, NY
 
Houghton, NY -- The Elmira College softball team opened Empire 8 Conference play this evening against the Highlanders of Houghton College. Elmira flexed its muscle at the plate, scoring 23 runs in the two games to earn back-to-back conference-opening wins against Houghton. EC homered three times in game one to claim a 13-7 win, before rallying from two-run deficit in the nightcap for a 10-5 victory.
 
Game one was a shootout, as the two teams combined for 20 runs. Elmira got on the scoreboard first thanks to a Katie Day '16 RBI triple that brought home Julianne Heggie '16, who led off the inning with a walk. Day scored two batters later to give EC a 2-0 edge.
 
The Highlanders answered in bottom half of the second with a pair of runs to level the contest at two apiece. Elmira responded in the next two innings with seven runs, three in the third and four in the fourth.
 
Day drove in two runs in the third with a two-run home run that brought in Maddy Johnson '19, while Emily Carlin '17 launched a one-out solo shot shorty after. Miranda Keefe '18 and Julianne Heggie scored runs in the fourth, before Jacquelyn Heggie '16 drove in a pair of runs on a triple that nearly turned into an inside the park homer, but Heggie was tagged out at home.
 
Houghton responded once again in the following two innings with two runs in the fourth and another three in the fifth to cut the Elmira lead to 9-7. The big play in the fifth was a two-out three-run homer by Bailey Shattell.
 
Looking to close the door on a Houghton comeback, EC responded with a three-run sixth inning on RBIs by Carlin, Emily Clark '19, and Jacquelyn Heggie, which gave the Purple and Gold a 12-7 lead. Julianne Heggie tacked on one more in the top of the seventh on a solo home run, which sealed a six-run win for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Carlin picked up her first win of the season, tossing five full innings with four strikeouts. Katie McDougal '18 made a relief appearance, tossing two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the win.
 
The second game of tonight's twinbill was also a slugfest, as 15 total runs crossed the plate. Houghton scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning on a pair of RBI base hits by Ashley Schenk and Jessica Hayner.
 
Houghton maintained its two-run lead through three full innings, until the Soaring Eagles put a five-spot on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Jacquelyn Heggie got things started with a one-out single that drove in two runs, which set the table for Carolyn Corcoran '19 to bring in one other that gave Elmira a 3-2 lead. Keefe wrapped up the five-run inning with a one-out RBI double that scored Corcoran and Heggie.
 
EC tacked on two additional runs in the top of the fifth on passed ball that scored Carlin and an RBI single by Corcoran, bringing the score to 7-2. Elmira's lead quickly turned to six in the sixth, as Day drove in her fifth run of the day.
 
The Highlanders scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Elmira lead to 8-5. Elmira answered in the top of the seventh on RBI hits by Jacquelyn Heggie and Corcoran, handing Elmira its fourth straight win of the year.
 
McDougal picked up the win in game two, tossing five full innings of five-run ball. She struck out three batters, while walking just one en route to her second win of the season. Marisa Bernardi '18 also made an appearance, logging two innings with one strikeout.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Elmira outhit Houghton 14-to-9.
• Houghton committed three errors to Elmira's one.
• EC scored multiple runs in the first, third, fourth, and sixth innings.
• Houghton scored multiple runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings.
• Five Elmira players logged multi-hit games, led by Day's three-hit effort.
• EC also produced six extra base hits, three coming as home runs.
• Day went 3-for-5 from the dish with four RBIs.
• Day registered an RBI triple and a two-run home run, while the other RBI came on a fielding error.  
• Johnson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
• Jacquelyn Heggie was 2-for-4 from the plate with three RBIs.
• Keefe was also 2-for-4 with one run scored.
• Julianne Heggie had one hit, a solo home run in the top of the seventh, and scored three runs.
• Carlin was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, one coming on a solo shot in the third.
• Carlin got the start in the pitcher's circle and tossed five innings with five strikeouts to earn her first win of the year.
• McDougal pitched the final two innings, holding the Highlanders scoreless.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Elmira produced 15 hits, while Houghton logged nine.
• Both teams were flawless in the field, as neither committed a single error.
• Houghton scored the game's first run in the first and tacked on three others in the sixth.
• Elmira was held scoreless in the first three innings, before exploding for 10 runs in the final four.
• Six Soaring Eagle batters registered multi-hit games.
• Corcoran went 3-for-4 from the plate with three RBIs.
• Jacquelyn Heggie went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
• Julianne Heggie was 2-for-3 with one run scored, two walks, and one stolen base.
• Johnson logged a pair of hits in five plate appearances.
• Chadbourne went 2-for-3 from the dish with one walk and three runs scored.
• Day recorded two hits on five plate appearances with one RBI and one run scored.
• Keefe registered one hit with two RBIs.
• Carlin also had one hit and scored twice.
• McDougal picked up her second win of the year, tossing five innings with three strikeouts.
• Bernardi also made an appearance, tossing two full innings with one strikeout.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 4-0 on the year and 2-0 in conference play.
• The Soaring Eagles increased their all-time series advantage to 9-1 against the Highlanders.
• EC opened E8 play with back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2013 season.
• Elmira is off to its best start since the 2012 season, when the Soaring Eagles also began the year with four straight wins.
• The Purple and Gold also picked up their first road win since April 2, 2015.
• EC's three home runs in game one are the most the team has recorded since April 25, 2014, when Elmira launched four against Alfred University.
• Day's four RBIs is a career-high, while her home run in game one was her first of the year.
• Day has also logged at least one RBI in each of EC's first four games.
• Johnson leads Elmira this season with three multi-hit games.
• Jacquelyn Heggie, Johnson, and Day have recorded at least one hit in all four games this season.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action tomorrow afternoon, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on Alfred University in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.