Score: Elmira College 11 – Penn College 2
Records: Elmira (10-19), Penn College (12-22)
Location: Dunn Field – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College baseball team reached another program milestone on Wednesday evening, collecting its first double-digit win season in the program's young history with an 11-2 victory over the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
 
Although the bats were held mostly in check by SUNY New Paltz over the weekend, the Soaring Eagles wasted little time in getting the offense going against the Wildcats. An early power surge broke things open for EC, as Nick Sampogna '18 and Dylan Bellinger '17 clubbed two-run homers in the second and third innings, respectively.
 
The Soaring Eagles got its big offensive night going in the second inning. Dennis Rudolph '18 started the rally with an infield single deep into the hole between third and short. Nate Hanner '18 followed by driving a 1-1 pitch into the right-center gap. The ball one-hopped the fence allowing Rudolph to easily circle the bases for the game's first run. It didn't take long for Elmira to add on. Nick Sampogna '18, who garnered a rare start at third base, turned around a pitch from Penn College starter Cody Nelson, driving it well over the fence in right-center for a titanic two-run blast.
 
The Purple and Gold tacked on two more runs to up the advantage to 5-0 during the following inning. Hayden Rothenberg '17 led-off the inning with a lined-single to left. Rey Colon '18 advanced him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt; however, the strategy proved unnecessary during the following at-bat. Bellinger crushed Elmira's second two-run blast of the contest, this one a moon shot to left-center.
 
The lead was more than enough for the Elmira pitching staff. Completing this non-conference contest by committee due to busy upcoming slate of games during the rest of the week, the staff turned in one of its finest collective efforts of the season. Six EC pitchers combined to allow two runs on five hits, striking out 10 Wildcat batters in total. Blake Phelps '19 picked up the win after putting up three straight zeros to begin the game. He allowed three hits and struck out four over his abbreviated outing.
 
Elmira added on some late insurance runs, after Penn College scratched across its only two runs to briefly cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the seventh. The Soaring Eagles plated three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to blow the game open.
 
Rudolph and Hanner delivered the big hits in the seventh inning. After Bellinger and Bawiec reached on back-to-back one-out walks, Rudolph swatted an RBI-double that short-hopped the fence just inside the foul-line in left. Hanner followed with a single through the left side, which brought home both Bawiec and Rudolph to up the advantage to 8-2.
 
The runs the following inning were more of the manufactured variety. Jack Thistle '18 led-off the inning with a pinch-hit lined-single to center. He advanced to third on a pair of failed pickoff attempts that went for throwing errors, before coming around to score on an RBI-groundout by Rothenberg. Rudolph drove-in another run later in the frame with an RBI-single, which brought home Bellinger. The Soaring Eagles added on another run to cap the scoring.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Corey Paluga on the team's performance…
"We obviously have some very important games coming up over the next couple weeks, but one thing we stressed was the importance of these non-conference games in helping us prepare for the big Empire 8 matchups later this week. We are very happy to see how the guys showed up right from the get-go. Our hitters had a great showing and I was impressed by how well our pitchers performed. Anytime your staff allows only two runs it gives you a chance to get a win."
 
Paluga on the milestone 10^th victory of the season…
"I think it's very exciting for the guys to pick up this win. We challenge all of our guys to put together individual goals, as well as team goals, and getting that win for double-digits is another benchmark for our young program. Earlier this season, we talked about building off of our eight wins from last season, so now that we have passed that and now we are adding on, that continues to build momentum in the right direction."
 
Paluga on the two homers…
"Obviously, the long-ball has not been something we have relied upon consistently throughout the season. We really preach that homers are generated through line drive swings and I thought all over guys put together great at-bats together. Dylan has been hitting the ball well all year and Nick has shown some pop when he has gotten opportunities with the bat. It's always exciting for the team to get that instant offense from homers, but overall I was happy with all of our guys performances at the plate tonight."
 
Paluga on Phelps…
"One of the things about being a young program is that there are lots of opportunities for young guys to get experience early in their careers. I think our young arms have done an excellent job of learning on the fly and Blake, in particular, has done an excellent job honing his delivery with the pitching coaches."
 
Paluga on tomorrow's contest…
"We always want to get off to fast starts. If we can put up a couple early runs and gain a lead it helps everyone sort of settle into the game. Keeping things simple and stringing together quality at-bats like we did tonight will hopefully help us to another win."
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outhit Penn College 14-to-5 in the contest.
• The Wildcats were charged with five errors, while Elmira committed one defensive miscue.
• EC left eight runners on base, while Penn College stranded seven runners.
• Eight Elmira batters collected hits in the winning effort.
• Five EC batters posted multi-hit efforts.
• Dennis Rudolph '18 led the way with three hits, going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs.
• Dylan Bellinger '17 went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, finishing with three runs scored, two RBIs, and one walk.
• Hayden Rothenberg '17 went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Nate Hanner '18 finished 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored, and three RBIs.
• Nick Sampogna '18 went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer.
• Conor Bawiec '18 went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.
• Jack Thistle '18 pinch-hit in the eighth inning, collecting a hit in his lone plate appearance. He came around to score in the frame.
• Rey Colon '18 picked up one hit in three at-bats.
• Blake Phelps '19 threw the first three innings of the contest, allowing three hits and striking out four.
• Joe Marigliano '17 and Andy Reed '19 each threw one inning of scoreless and hitless relief, each punching out one Wildcat hitter.
• Mike Ladka '16 allowed two runs on one hit and two walks in two innings of work.
• Nick Cottone '19 navigated a hit and a walk to also throw a scoreless inning of relief. He fanned one Penn College batter.
• Sampogna finished things off for EC, striking out two in a scoreless frame.

 
News and Notes

• With the win, Elmira posts the first double-digit win season in program history.
• Elmira is now 1-1 all-time against the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
• The 11 runs are the second-highest total the Soaring Eagles have posted at home this season. EC posted 14 runs in its home opener against Medaille College on March 22^nd.
• EC hit two homeruns in the game, marking the first multi-homer game for the team in program history.
• Sampogna crushed his first career homerun.
• Bellinger launched his fifth long-ball of the season to extend his single-season program high.
• Blake Phelps '19 picked up his first collegiate win.
• Rudolph posted his fourth game with three-or-more hits of the season.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action tomorrow afternoon, as the Purple and Gold hit the road for a non-conference tilt against Alfred State. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.