Score (Game One): Utica 11 – Elmira 10
Score (Game Two): Elmira 9 – Utica 5 (Through 5 innings)
Records: Utica (2-12, 2-4 Empire 8), Elmira (6-11, 0-4 Empire 8)
Location: Utica College Baseball Field – Utica, NY
 
Utica, NY -- The Elmira College baseball team jumped back into Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday when it hit the road for a doubleheader at Utica College. The Soaring Eagles looked to be in prime position to score its first conference win of the season, but the Pioneers stormed back to steal the opener 11-10. The two squads got through five innings in game two, with Elmira leading 9-5, before the game was paused on a count of darkness. The remainder of Saturday's second game, as well as Sunday's nine-inning series finale, will be played at a later date still to be determined.
 
Getting off to slow starts has been a problem area for Elmira over recent games and had been a point of emphasis for the team heading into the weekend set at Utica. Although EC escaped the troublesome first inning, Utica was able to push across a run in the second to grab an early lead. Outfielder Jake Ryan laced a two-out RBI-double to score catcher Matthew Fitzgerald, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
 
The score remained the same until the fourth when the EC bats caught fire the second time through the lineup. Rey Colon '18 walked to lead off the inning, while Dylan Bellinger '17 drove a ball deep to center, chasing home Colon, while the EC first baseman ended up at second base. Conor Bawiec '18 gave Elmira its first lead in the following at-bat, pushing Bellinger across with an RBI-single to left.
 
Although Dennis Rudolph '18 followed by hitting into an around-the-horn double play, the inning was far from done, as Elmira put together a two-out rally. Brian Wehmeyer '16, Jack Thistle '18 and Bryce Plante '18 smacked consecutive singles, with Plante's scoring both Wehmeyer and Thistle to cap the inning with EC leading 4-1.
 
The Pioneers answered with a five-spot of its own in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead 6-4. Wildness was the primary driver of the inning, as Elmira starter Nick Sampogna '18 walked two batters and hit two others. Utica's Tim Quinlan delivered the big blow in the inning, clearing the bases with a two-out bases-loaded double.
 
The Pioneers lead only lasted until the next half inning, as Elmira scored three more runs to retake the lead in the fifth. Bellinger bashed a one-out single and came around to score during the following at-bat. Dennis Rudolph '18 pushed Bawiec across to tie the game with an RBI-single, while he came around to score on a double steal.
 
The Purple and Gold tacked on three more runs in the sixth. Cameron Heggie '18 led off the inning with a double to left, while the Soaring Eagles had runners on the corners after Hayden Rothenberg '17 followed with a single. Bellinger got the scoring going with an RBI-single to make it 8-6. Rudolph stretched the lead to 10-6 when he laced a bases-loaded single to center to bring home Bellinger and Colon.
 
Elmira carried the lead into the bottom of the seventh, but unfortunately the lead would not be enough for the EC bullpen to hold. Three walks and two errors helped the Pioneers close to within 10-9 with two outs. Utica's Vincent Burillo ended the game with a walk-off two-RBI double to complete the comeback 11-10.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to a flying start in the second game, scoring six runs in the first and two more in the second. Heggie delivered the clutch hit in the first inning, bashing a two-out bases-loaded double, which cleared the bases. Bawiec made the big hit in the second, crushing a two-RBI triple to right field to make it 8-0.
 
Utica closed the gap with five runs of its own, before Elmira added on with one run in the fifth. The game was called at the end of five inning due to darkness. The game will be resumed at a later date still to be determined.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outhit Utica 11-to-6 in the opener.
• Utica committed seven errors, while Elmira was charged with four defensive miscues.
• Eight Elmira batters collected hits.
• Bellinger had another monster game, going 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and two RBIs.
• Rudolph finished 2-for-4 with one run scored and three RBIs. He also added two stolen bases.
• Plante went 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
• Bawiec, Wehmeyer, and Heggie each finished 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Wehmeyer and Bawiec each scored a run, while Bawiec added an RBI.
• Rothenberg went 1-for-5 with a run scored.
• Although Colon went 0-for-4 in the contest, he scored two of Elmira's 10 runs.
• Sampogna went 6.0 innings, allowing six runs on five hits. He also notched seven strikeouts.
• Nick Cottone '19 was charged with four runs allowed in 0.1 innings of work.
• Blake Phelps '19 picked up the loss, allowing one hit and the winning run to cross.

 
News and Notes

• With the loss, Elmira falls to 0-4 to begin Empire 8 play.
• The Soaring Eagles are now 0-4 all-time against Utica.
• The opening game loss marked Elmira's first blow save when leading going into the final inning this season.
• Bellinger has been on an absolute tear in recent contests. He has now collected an extra-base hit in three consecutive games.
• Bawiec extended his on-base streak to 28 consecutive games with hits in both contests.

 
Up Next
With Sunday's game postponed, Elmira will next be in action on Tuesday, April 5^th, when the team heads to Scranton, PA, for a single nine-inning contest against Marywood University. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.