Score: Elmira College 8, Penn College 0 (five innings)
Score: Penn College 4, Elmira College 0
Records: Elmira (10-14), Penn College (15-16)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College softball team traded a pair of non-league wins this afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium with the Pennsylvania College of Technology. Elmira used a five-run first inning to set the tone in game one, as the Soaring Eagles throttled the Wildcats by an 8-0 final. Penn College rode the effort of a strong pitching performance in game two to claim a 4-0 shutout victory over the Purple and Gold in the nightcap.
 
Elmira's potent offense was the story in game one, as the Soaring Eagles scored eight runs in the first three innings; five of those first eight runs came in the first inning. Julianne Heggie '16 began the five-run inning by reaching on an error, one of four Wildcat miscues in the opener. On the ensuing at bat, Maddy Johnson '19 scored Heggie from first with a double to left field, giving EC its first run of the game.
 
Katie Day '16 followed the Johnson at bat with an infield single, putting runners on the corners thanks to a heads up play on the base paths by the lightening quick freshman. Emily Clark '19 made it 2-0 on the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to right field.
 
Following the sac-fly, Elmira's next two batters reached safely on a walk and another infield single, loading the bases for Jacquelyn Heggie '16. On an 0-2 count, Heggie laced one up the middle, scoring Day and Emily Carlin '17 to give the Purple and Gold a four-run lead.
 
Two batters later, Miranda Keefe '18 drove in the fifth and final run of the inning, scoring Chelsea Storch '17 from third base to give EC its 5-0 lead.
 
Elmira added to its lead in the bottom of the second inning, as Johnson and Day reached safely on a fielder's choice and a double, respectively. On the ensuing at bat, a defensive miscue by the Wildcat catcher allowed Johnson to score on a passed ball, which was followed by a one-out single by Clark that scored Day to put Elmira on top, 7-0.
 
EC's final run of the game came in the third inning on an RBI bunt single by Johnson that scored Elmira's starting pitcher, Katie McDougal '18.
 
Although Elmira's bats were the story in game one, the pitching from McDougal was just as good. The steady sophomore allowed just four hits in four innings of work, striking out two batters in her sixth win of the season.
 
Penn College's biggest scoring threat came in the third inning when the Wildcats loaded the bases on their first three at bats. All three base runners reached on a trio of soft hit singles; two bloopers to the outfield and another off the end of the bat that straddled the right field foul line. McDougal would get out of the jam unscathed thanks a double play and a timely ground out.
 
The Wildcats threatened again in the top of the fifth inning by loading the bases with two outs. However, relief pitcher Marisa Bernardi '18 was able to get Kelsey Gantz to ground out to end the inning, and the game, as the Soaring Eagles marched away with an 8-0 win.
 
Elmira did not fare as well in today's nightcap, as the Purple and Gold were held to just three hits compared with Penn College's 12. The strong pitching performance by the Wildcats was the key factor in Penn College walking away with a 4-0 shutout victory.
 
Inside the Box Score (Game One)

• Elmira outhit Penn College 8-to-7.
• The Wildcats committed four fielding errors, while EC was flawless.
• Elmira registered the game's only stolen bases (3).
• Two Soaring Eagles logged multi-hit games.
• Johnson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
• Day also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
• Clark was 1-for-2 form the dish with two RBIs.
• Jacquelyn Heggie was also 1-for-2 at the plate with a pair of RBIs.
• Carlin and Storch were each 1-for-2 at the plate and each scored one run.
• Keefe did not produce a hit today but did drive in one run.
• Julianne Heggie swiped two bases, while Johnson stole one.
• McDougal picked up her sixth win of the year, after tossing 4.0 innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts.
• Marisa Bernardi came in for relief duty and fanned two batters.

 
Inside the Box Score (Game Two)

• Penn College held the advantage in hits 12-to-3.
• Elmira had the only errors of the game with two miscues in the field.
• Johnson was 1-for-3, while Jacquelyn Heggie and Keefe were each 1-for-2.
• Julianne Heggie drew Elmira's only walk of the game.
• Bernardi got the start in game two and went 4.0 innings, allowing one run (unearned).
• Carlin made a relief appearance, tossing 2.1 innings with one strikeout and three runs allowed.
• McDougal finished the game in the circle, recording the final two outs for the seventh inning for EC.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira is 9-1 all-time against Penn College.
• EC turned two double plays in game one, a season high for the Soaring Eagles.
• Jacquelyn Heggie has reached safely in 11 straight games, the longest such streak by an EC player this season.
• Keefe has reached base safely in seven consecutive games.
• Johnson is riding high on a six-game hitting streak, just three shy of her season-long streak of nine.
• Johnson logged her 11th multi-hit game of the season, a mark that leads all Soaring Eagles this year.

 
Up Next
Elmira concludes the 2016 campaign next Tuesday, May 3rd, with a non-conference doubleheader with St. Lawrence University. Tuesday's contest is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. at Eldridge Park Stadium.