Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 3, Elmira College 2
Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 6, Elmira College 3
Records: Elmira (4-4, 2-4 E8), Stevens (14-8, 5-3 E8)
Location: Weehawken Waterfront Park – Weehawken, NJ
 
Weehawken, NJ -- The Elmira College softball team played a pair of competitive games in Weehawken, NJ, this afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles clashed with Stevens Institute of Technology in an E8 doubleheader. Elmira dropped both games to the Ducks, falling 3-2 in game one, before suffering a 6-3 defeat in the nightcap.
 
Elmira rallied from two-down in game one, scoring the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning. However, a walk-off double by Emily Sellitti lifted Stevens to a one-run win. The second game saw Elmira take a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Maddy Johnson '19, but the Ducks exploded for six runs in the bottom half of the inning, all but sealing a 6-3 win for Stevens.
 
Stevens jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game one on RBI hits by Lauren Shirley and Olivia Gemma in the bottom of the first. Shirley opened the scoring with an RBI single to left center field, which was followed up with a hot shot by Gemma that made its way through the middle of EC's infield and scored Farryl Groder, giving the Ducks a two-run lead.
 
Elmira trimmed the Stevens lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning thanks to some two-out magic. Chelsea Storch '17 began the inning with a single to left field, but EC's next two batters were retired on a ground out and a strikeout. With two outs, Johnson answered the call with an RBI ground-rule double that scored Storch from second.
 
The Ducks clung to their one-run lead into the top of the seventh inning, which was aided by some phenomenal pitching that kept a single Soaring Eagle batter from reaching base safely over the next three innings. However, Elmira snapped that streak in the top of the seventh on a leadoff single by Emily Clark '19. Following the hit, speedster Hannah Lundgren '18 was subbed in to pinch run, but would be forced out at second on a fielder's choice on the next at bat.
 
With one out, Jacquelyn Heggie '16 laid down a perfect bunt, which allowed the lightning quick outfielder to reach safely, putting runners on first and second. EC's next batter, Storch, reached on a fielder's choice, as Heggie was put out at second, but the play was far from over at that point.
 
Following the put out of Heggie, Miranda Keefe '18 advanced to third, but instead of staying she made a break for home. The risky play by Keefe paid off, as Stevens' Shirley made an attempt to end the game with a play at the plate, but an errant throw allowed Keefe to slide in for the score, tying the game at 2-2.
 
After tying the game in the seventh, Elmira hoped to force extra innings with a clean bottom half of the inning. Unfortunately, EC's hopes came to a screeching halt, as Emily Sellitti delivered a one-out walk-off RBI double in the seventh, sealing a 3-2 win for the Ducks. 
 
Game two was your classic pitcher's duel, as neither team was able to cross the plate through five full innings. Elmira finally broke the 0-0 stalemate in the top of the sixth, when Johnson laced an RBI single to right field, scoring Jacquelyn Heggie, who led off the inning with a walk.
 
Elmira's one-run lead did not stand for long, as the Ducks responded with a six-run rally in the bottom half of the sixth inning, giving Stevens a 6-1 lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles rallied in the top of the seventh, as Emily Carlin '17 opened the inning with a leadoff single that snuck through the left side of the infield. EC's next batter, Emily Clark '19, cut the Stevens lead in half with a two-run homer to left center field, the first home run of her collegiate career.
 
On the ensuing at bat, Keefe drew a walk to extend the inning; however, Elmira's comeback came up short, as Chadbourne grounded out on the next at bat, followed by a game-ending double play.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Stevens outhit Elmira 13-to-5.
• The Ducks committed one error, while the Soaring Eagles were flawless in the field.
• Emily Sellitti delivered the walk-off hit, an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning.
• Johnson went 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI ground-rule double in the bottom of the third inning.
• Jacquelyn Heggie, Clark, and Storch were all 1-for-3 from the dish.
• Keefe and Storch scored runs for Elmira.
• Katie Day '16 drew one walk, EC's lone base-on-balls of the game.
• Carlin pitched 6.1 innings, striking out one batter, while allowing three runs (one unearned).

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Stevens held a slim lead in hits, 6-to-5.
• Elmira committed the only error of the game.
• Seven of the game's nine runs were scored in the sixth inning (Stevens - 6, Elmira - 1).
• EC held a one-run lead in the bottom of the sixth when the Ducks exploded for six runs.
• Johnson, Day, Carlin, Clark, and Jacquelyn Heggie all registered one hit.
• Carlin, Clark, and Heggie also scored runs.
• Johnson drove in one run on a one-out single in the sixth.
• Clark brought in a pair of runs on a two-run homer in the top of the seventh.
• Johnson and Jacquelyn Heggie each stole one base.
• McDougal tossed 5.2 innings, striking out one batter, while allowing six runs (one unearned).
• Bernardi closed out the sixth inning without allowing a run.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira fell to 2-4 in E8 play this season after opening conference play with back-to-back wins over Houghton.
• Johnson extended her hitting streak to eight games, the most by an EC freshman since the 2012 season (Katie Dore '15 – 11 games).
• Johnson, Clark, and Jacquelyn Heggie have reached base safely in eight straight games.
• Johnson's two-hit effort in game one of today's series gives the rookie outfielder a team-leading four multi-hit games.
• Clark hit her first career home run in game two of today's series.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action this Saturday, April 16th, when the Soaring Eagles host St. John Fisher College in an Empire 8 doubleheader. Saturday's E8 games are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Eldridge Park Stadium in Elmira, NY.