Score: Elmira College 6, Nazareth College 5
Score: Nazareth College 6, Elmira College 0
Records: Elmira (5-7, 3-7 E8), Nazareth (13-11, 1-5 E8)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- Elmira College softball traded a pair of Empire 8 Conference wins with Nazareth College on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium. The Soaring Eagles rallied for a one-run win in game one, 6-5, before being held scoreless in the nightcap and falling to the Golden Flyers, 6-0.
 
In the opening game, Chelsea Storch '17 gave Elmira a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a one-out single that drove in two runs. Storch laced one into center field, scoring Emily Clark '19 and Emily Carlin '17.
 
The two-run lead did not stand for long, as the Golden Flyers answered with five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 5-2 advantage. However, Elmira would not go away quietly.
 
A double steal in the third inning by Julianne Heggie '16 and Maddy Johnson '19 put the two speedsters on second and third, respectively, with EC's Carlin approaching the plate. On the ensuing at bat, Carlin hit a slow dribbler towards the right side of the infield, which allowed Heggie to score from third, cutting the lead to 5-3.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning by Nazareth, Elmira trimmed the Golden Flyer lead to just one in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, Storch hit a routine fly ball to right field, but an error on the catch allowed her to reach safely and eventually make it to third base standing up. The next batter, Carolyn Corcoran '19, laid down a bunt that forced the Nazareth defense to make a play at first base. On the throw, Storch broke for home and would eventually beat out a play at the plate, sliding under the tag to cut Nazareth's lead to 5-4.
 
It looked as though the Golden Flyers were going to extend their lead in the following inning, as their first two batters reached safely, putting runners on first and second. Elmira's defense took over the spotlight at that point, as the next Golden Flyer batter lined one to Storch at third, who after making the catch fired it quickly over to first for a 5-3 double play. EC escaped from the inning unscathed three pitches later, when Katie McDougal '18 got Nazareth's Taylor Turcsik to pop up and end the inning.
 
Nazareth clung to its one-run lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Golden Flyers stood just three outs away from their first conference victory of the season. On the first at bat of the seventh, Miranda Keefe '18 skied one to the pitcher, but the high fly ball drew the attention of all Nazareth's infielders, which created a good amount of confusion amongst the group. A lack of communication by the Golden Flyers resulted with no one touching the ball, as Keefe's attempt hit the dirt in a sea of black uniforms.
 
Julianne Heggie followed with a single by beating out a throw from third to first, which allowed Keefe to reach third on the play. Heggie stole second on the next at bat, putting two runners in scoring position for EC's most consistent hitter this season, rookie Maddy Johnson '19. Johnson laced a shot through the middle of the infield, scoring Keefe from third to tie the game at 5-5.
 
Elmira eventually loaded the bases with no outs with Carlin at the plate, putting an immense amount of pressure on the Nazareth defense. On the Carlin at bat, Nazareth's catcher, Turcsik, noticed Heggie had drifted too far from third base and saw a chance to get a quick out. Turcsik fired the ball over to third, but the throw was too high and flew over the head of third baseman Carly Pike, allowing Heggie to slide into home for game-winning run.
 
The second game of today's twinbill was controlled from the start by Nazareth. The Golden Flyers scored six times on 18 hits, while holding Elmira scoreless on just four base hits to secure a 6-0 win.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Nazareth produced 12 hits, while Elmira recorded seven.
• The Golden Flyers committed six errors compared with Elmira's one.
• Elmira stole six bases, while Nazareth stole one.
• Johnson went 2-for-4 from the plate with an RBI single in the seventh.
• Julianne Heggie, Katie Day, Storch, Corcoran, and Keefe all registered one hit.
• Storch led Elmira with two RBIs, both coming in the second inning.
• Corcoran drove in Elmira's other run this evening.
• Heggie also scored two runs this afternoon.
• Carlin, Clark, Storch, and Keefe also scored runs.
• Carlin got the start in the pitcher's circle and tossed three full innings with one strikeout.
• McDougal was credited with the win, as she pitched four scoreless innings.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• The Golden Flyers outhit Elmira 18-to-4.
• EC committed just one error, while Nazareth was flawless fielding the ball.
• Clark, Keefe, and both Heggie sisters registered one hit apiece.
• McDougal got the start for EC in the pitcher's circle and went four full innings, allowing three runs (one unearned).

 
News and Notes

• Elmira snapped a six-game skid with its 6-5 comeback win in game one.
• EC splits the season series with Nazareth to improve to 3-7 in conference games this season.
• The Soaring Eagles were shutout for the first time this year.
• EC's six runs are tied for the fewest scored in a win this season.
• Elmira stole six bases in game one, the second-highest total of the 2016 campaign.

 
Up Next
Elmira continues its stretch of 10 home contests with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Ithaca College tomorrow, April 18th, at Eldridge Park Stadium.