Score: Elmira College 3 – University of Pittsburgh at Bradford 0
Records: Elmira (1-0), Pitt-Bradford (5-14)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- What began as a gloomy rainy day in the Southern Tier ended in high fives and smiles, as the Elmira College softball team blanked the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford by a 3-0 final score in EC's season-opening game. The second game of today's doubleheader was called off due to significant rainfall that made the field at Eldridge Park Stadium unplayable.
 
Elmira's Katie McDougal '18 tossed a gem this afternoon, as the junior hurler pitched a seven-inning complete-game shutout for her first win of the season. Although McDougal did not finish with a strikeout, her variety of pitches and speed gave the Panthers fits at the plate, as the visitors logged just four hits and zero runs. Offensively, the Soaring Eagles logged 11 hits with one extra-base knock and scratched across three runs.
 
First baseman Emily Clark '19 drove in the first run of the game in the first inning on a hard-hit ball to center field that scored Maddy Johnson '19, who began the inning with a leadoff single through the heart of the Pitt-Bradford infield.
 
The Soaring Eagles looked prime to blow today's game wide open in the bottom of the second inning, as Carolyn Corcoran '19 laced a one-out double to deep left field and reached third on the next at-bat on a passed ball. Sarah Garner '20 drew a walk on the next at-bat, but a ground out and foul fly-out in back-to-back plate appearances ended the inning.
 
Pitt-Bradford threated to tie things up in the third inning, as Natalie Harding led off with a double to left field. However, McDougal neutralized the Panthers with three consecutive outs, two of which ended in ground outs, to maintain EC's 1-0 lead.
 
Elmira extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to Garner, Samantha Jenkins '20, and Johnson loading the bases with one out. With the bases juiced, Allie Krohn '20 laced a hot shot through the left side of the infield to score Garner from third and Jenkins from second for a two-RBI single.
 
From there on out, Pitt-Bradford was held to just two hits – one in the sixth and another in the seventh – but was unable to drive in either base-runner, as the Soaring Eagles marched away with a 3-0 season-opening win.
 
Turning Point
With a one-run lead, Elmira loaded the bases with just one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting speed on all three bases. Rookie Allie Krohn delivered a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield, scoring Jenkins and Garner, the latter of whom slid under the tag at home plate to give the Purple and Gold a three-run cushion.
 
In Her Own Words…
Head Coach Rhonda Faunce shares her thoughts on today's game…
"I think we were solid today. I think we were able to hit the ball pretty well and probably could have scored more runs. It was nice to just to play and get some of those jitters out for the new players."
 
Coach Faunce talks about Elmira's defensive efforts this afternoon…
"I have to give a lot of credit to Katie. She controlled their hitters pretty well. She pitched and hit her spots very well today. Coach Purcell did a really good job making sure we put the ball where she needed to put it and I think Katie did a great job during her first time out. We were normal defensively – Maddy [Johnson] had one spectacular catch in center field, but other than that we just made the plays we had to make."
 
Coach Faunce on how today's win helps EC prepare for a pair of E8 doubleheaders this weekend…
"I think whenever you get a first win, the team thinks they can win them all sometimes. I think knowing that you can win just sets a mentality for the season. Now they know they can beat teams and hopefully it goes on from there."
 
Inside the Box Score

• Johnson went 3-for-4 from the plate with one run scored.
• Jenkins went 2-for-3 from the dish with one run scored.
• Krohn drove in two runs on a 1-for-3 showing at the plate in her rookie debut.
• Clark was also 1-for-3 and logged EC's only other RBI of the afternoon.
• Emily Carlin '17, Chelsea Storch '17, Corcoran, and Garner registered one hit apiece.
• Garner also scored one run and earned a walk.
• Corcoran had EC's lone extra-base hit, a double in the bottom of the second inning.
• McDougal tossed seven innings of shutout ball with 12 ground outs, nine fly outs, and no walks.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 9-2 in season-opening games over the last 11 years.
• EC earned its first win over Pitt-Bradford since 2003.
• The Soaring Eagles are 3-0 all-time against the Panthers.
• Krohn, Garner, and Jenkins each logged their first career hits.
• Johnson recorded the third three-hit game of her collegiate career.
• McDougal earned her first career seven-inning complete-game shutout win.

 
Up Next
Elmira heads to Rochester, New York, this weekend to open Empire 8 Conference play. The Soaring Eagles take on fifth-ranked St. John Fisher College on Saturday, April 1, before wrapping-up their stay in the Flower City with a twin bill against Nazareth College the following Sunday. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.