Elmira College (4-2, 2-2 E8) vs. Stevens Institute of Technology (12-6, 3-1 E8)
Sunday, April 10, 2016 | 1:00 P.M. | Weehawken Waterfront Park – Weehawken, NJ
Live Coverage
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College softball team returns to action this Sunday, April 10th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on the Ducks of Stevens Institute of Technology. Sunday's Empire 8 doubleheader is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Weehawken Waterfront Park in Weehawken, NJ.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira suffered a pair of Empire 8 road defeats in its most recent doubleheader against the reigning conference champion, Alfred University. A four-run fifth inning for the Saxons was the difference in game one, as EC dropped an 11-5 decision, while game two saw the Saxons score eight unanswered in the final three innings to break a 5-5 tie and earn a 13-5 victory.
 
Great Start for Johnson
Rookie Maddy Johnson '19 has got off to a hot start to her collegiate career. The rookie left fielder has produced at least one hit in each of Elmira's six contests this year, which includes three multi-hit games. Her six-game hitting streak is a season-long for the Soaring Eagles and is the longest hitting streak by an EC freshman since Emily Carlin '17 hit safely in seven straight.
 
Production at Leadoff
EC's leadoff batter, Julianne Heggie '16, has been superb through the team's first six contests. The senior outfielder is batting .462 and owns an impressive .680 on-base percentage, which leads the Empire 8 Conference. Heggie's patience at the plate has been the difference this year, logging nine walks, the most she has produced in a single-season since her rookie year in 2013 when she also walked nine times in 27 games.
 
Carlin's Big Bat
Emily Carlin '17 has launched three home runs in four games this season, good enough to place the Riverside, CA, native in a six-way tie for second place in the E8. 
 
Scouting Stevens
The Ducks of Stevens enter the weekend with a 12-6 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Empire 8 play. Stevens is 6-4 in its last 10 games, which includes a pair of conference wins over Houghton College and a one-run win against Alfred University. Scoring runs has come with ease for Stevens this season, as the Ducks lead the E8 with 114 runs scored (6.3 runs per game). However, defense will be the key to victory for Stevens this weekend, as the Ducks are 4-6 when allowing five or more runs this year. Gavriella Risman-Jones has been Stevens' most consistent hitter with a healthy .531 batting average, ranking second in the Empire 8. Stevens has four players this year with 10-or-more RBIs, led by Olivia Gemma's 15 runs batted in, which ranks second in the Empire 8. Marissa Cappello has been the Ducks' first choice in the pitcher's circle, as the freshman hurler has logged 41.0 innings with a team-best 5-1 record.
 
All-Time Series
Since 2010, Elmira and Stevens have met 12 times. The Ducks own an 8-4 advantage in the all-time series and have swept the season series the past two years. Elmira's last win against the Ducks dates back to the 2013 season, when the Soaring Eagles earned a pair of victories at Eldridge Park Stadium, 9-0 and 3-2.
 
Looking Ahead
The Purple and Gold will enjoy a six-day layoff until their next contest, an Empire 8 doubleheader with St. John Fisher College on Saturday, April 16th, at Eldridge Park Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.