Score: Alfred University 11, Elmira College 5
Score:  Alfred University 13, Elmira College 5 (5 innings)
Records: Elmira (4-2, 2-2 E8), Alfred (11-5, 3-1 E8)
Location: Harrington Field – Alfred, NY
 
Alfred, NY -- Elmira College softball looked to extend its four-game winning streak entering today's doubleheader with the defending Empire 8 Conference champion Alfred University Saxons. Despite a valiant effort at the plate, Elmira came up short in both games at Harrington Field in Alfred, NY. A four-run fifth inning for Alfred was the difference in game one, as EC dropped an 11-5 decision, while game two saw the Saxons turn a 5-5 tie in the third inning into a 13-5 victory.
 
Alfred got out to a quick start thanks to a one-out two-run homer by the reigning Empire 8 Player of the Year, Liz Thompson. Elmira answered in the top half of the second inning, when Emily Carlin '17 jacked a solo shot to cut the Saxon lead to 2-1; however, the one-run deficit quickly turned to two, as Alfred's Jasmine Picini scored on a wild pitch in the bottom half of the inning.
 
EC trimmed the lead to on in the top of the third on another solo homer, this one coming from Julianne Heggie '16. Heggie's two-out blast was her second of the season and second in as many days.
 
The Saxons responded in the bottom half of the inning once more, as today's slugfest continued. Alfred's Haley Powers and Pinici both launched a pair of one-out two-run home runs to give the Saxons a five-run cushion.
 
The Soaring Eagled began to chip away at the Saxon lead in the top of the fourth, as the Elmira women loaded the bases with just one out. EC's next batter would be retired on strikes, but patience at the plate paid off for Elmira later in the inning. With the bases juiced, Miranda Keefe '18 worked a little two-out magic with an RBI walk, which set the table for a wild pitch one batter later that scored Sam Chadbourne '19.
 
Elmira hoped to continue its rally in the fourth with the team's hottest hitter at the plate, rookie Maddy Johnson '19. With runners in scoring position, Johnson laced a hot shot to left field, but the hard hit ball was snagged by Saxon outfielder, ending the EC threat.
 
After holding the Saxons scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Carlin cut the Alfred lead to 7-5 with her second solo homer of the afternoon. Carlin's one-out dinger placed her in an 11-way tie for the most home runs in a single game in EC history.
 
With momentum seemingly resting with the Soaring Eagles, Elmira looked to continue their comeback by shutting out the Saxons in the fifth inning. That hope was unrealized, as Alfred's first three batters reached safely. The Saxons would go on to score four runs in the fifth to take a commanding 11-5 lead.
 
Elmira hoped to mount comeback in the seventh inning, when Julianne Heggie '16 led off with a double. The Soaring Eagles were unable to bring Heggie home, stranding her at third base, as Alfred took the opening game of the series, 11-5.
 
Game two had a similar start as game one, as the Saxons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. However, Elmira answered in the big way in the top of the second, putting a four-spot on the scoreboard to take its first lead of the day, 4-1.
 
After loading the bases with one out, Elmira's Carolyn Corcoran '19 and Julianne Heggie worked a pair of walks that brought in two runs. Johnson stepped up next and delivered a two-out single that scored by Corcoran and Heggie, which gave EC a three-run lead and forced an Alfred pitching change.
 
EC's three-run advantage was short-lived, as the Saxons answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-4 lead.
 
The back-and-forth affair continued in the top of third, when Chelsea Storch '17 laced a one-out single that scored Emily Clark '19, tying the game at five apiece. This would be as close as EC would get though; Alfred went on to score eight unanswered runs over the next three innings to seal a 13-5 win in a five-inning shortened game.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Alfred held the advantage in hits, 11-to-5.
• Elmira committed just one error, while Alfred was errorless in the field.
• Carlin was perfect from plate, going 3-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in the second and fifth innings. 
• Julianne Heggie was 2-for-3 with a solo homer in the third and a double in the seventh.
• Jacquelyn Heggie and Johnson went 1-for-3 from the dish this afternoon, rounding out EC's hitting.
• Carlin got the start in the circle and would pitch four full innings, allowing 11 runs (one unearned).
• Bernardi made a relief appearance and tossed two full innings of shutout ball.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Alfred's bats rang loudly in the nightcap, as the Saxons outhit Elmira 15-to-4.
• Elmira committed four errors, while Alfred had just one.
• Alfred scored eight unanswered runs in the final three innings to turn a 5-5 tie into a 13-5 win.
• Johnson was 1-for-3 with a two-out single that drove in a pair of runs in the second inning.
• Storch went 2-for-3 from the plate with an RBI single in the third.
• Julianne Heggie and Corcoran registered RBIs on a pair of walks with the bases loaded.
• Clark was 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Carlin, Jacquelyn Heggie, Storch, Clark, and Corcoran all scored runs for EC.
• Bernardi started game two, but was pulled after 1.2 innings after giving up five runs.
• McDougal came in for relief duty, but the Saxons scored eight runs (three unearned) on the second-year hurler.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira suffered its first losses in E8 play this season.
• Elmira has hit three home runs in two games this year, marking the first time an EC team has done so in over 12 seasons.
• Johnson extended her team-leading hitting streak to six games, the longest such streak by an EC freshman since 2014 (Carlin 7 games).
• The Heggie sisters, Clark, and Johnson have reached base safely in six straight games.
• Carlin's two solo homers place her in an 11-way tie for the most home runs in a single game in EC history.

 
Up Next
Elmira will enjoy a five-day layoff until its next contest, a Thursday, April 7th, meeting with non-conference opponent Alfred State. Thursday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Eldridge Park Stadium in Elmira, NY.