Score: Elmira College 6, SUNY Canton 4
Score: #18 St. John Fisher College 13, Elmira 9
Records: Elmira (12-12, 8-7 E8), Canton (6-23, 2-12 E8), Fisher (23-6, 10-0 E8)
Location: Dunn Field -- Elmira, New York
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College baseball split its two Empire 8 Conference games held on Sunday afternoon at historic Dunn Field. The Purple and Gold bested SUNY Canton by a 6-4 final score in the opening game, before falling in the nightcap to 18th-ranked St. John Fisher College by a final score of 13-9.

The Soaring Eagles began the scoring in the opening game in the bottom of the first inning, when Hayden Rothenberg '17 came home from third base on a throwing error by the Kangaroos' Ben Miller.

Canton answered in the in the third inning with a RBI single from Wilson Matos through the right side that tied the score at 1-1.

Elmira matched the Roos' first run with three more runs in the bottom of the third. Tommy Fogarty '20 drove in the first two runs of the frame with a single up the middle. Dennis Rudolph '18 continued the push with a double down the right field line that plated Fogarty from second base and gave EC a three-run advantage, 4-1.

The Kangaroos again answered the Purple and Gold in the top of the fifth inning. Canton's Brandon Welch plated the first run with a RBI single up the middle. Miller drove in two more runs with a double down the right field line, which tied the score at 4-all.

EC regained the lead in the in the bottom of the seventh inning. A Fogarty RBI single to center field gave the Soaring Eagles the 5-4 advantage. Harrison Zambarano '19 gave Elmira an insurance run with a RBI groundout, giving them a 6-4 lead.

This lead would be good enough, as reliever Andy Reed '19 held the Kangaroos scoreless for the final four innings of the bout. Reed allowed zero runs and just two hits in his winning effort as a reliever.

In the second game of the day, St. John Fisher stormed out to an early 1-0 lead by scoring on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals' first baseman, Scott Eisenmenger, extended the advantage with a RBI single to left field that plated one.

Facing a 2-0 disadvantage, Elmira scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third frame. Rudolph posted EC's first run with a double that just missed clearing the left field wall that plated Cameron Heggie '18 from second base.

Following a one-run top of the fifth inning for the Cardinals, the Soaring Eagles trailed 4-1. Despite this deficit, EC rallied to tie the score at 4-all in the bottom of the frame. With the bases loaded and two outs, Jansen Crossley '20 calmly stepped to the plate and hammered a bases-clearing double to left field that knotted the game.

Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, this momentum was short-lived, as the Cardinals plated six in the top of the following inning to storm ahead, 10-4. Fisher took advantage of sloppy fielding and erratic pitching to score five unearned runs in the frame.  The Cardinals added three runs to their lead in the eighth inning to take a 13-4 advantage into the bottom of the ninth.

The Purple and Gold did not go down without out a fight, however, as they plated five in the home half of the frame. Conor Bawiec '18 started the comeback attempt with a RBI single to left field that plated Jack Thistle '18 from third base. EC added two more runs on a throwing error by Fisher's shortstop. Crossley continued his impressive day with a RBI single to left, which cut the deficit to five runs, 13-8. Crossley further cut the margin when he scored from third base on a Cardinals' fielding error.

Unfortunately for Elmira, this late comeback proved to not be enough, as a Thistle flyout to Fisher's center fielder gave the Cardinals the 13-9 conference victory.
 
In Their Own Words...
Head Coach Corey Paluga on taking the season series against SUNY Canton...
"It was a great win because it meant that we won the series. We had several different guys play significant roles in that game. It was a true team effort."
 
Coach Paluga on his team's pitching over the past two days...
"Pitching certainly played an important role in our ability to be competitive in each game of the Canton series. Bawiec, Nick Sampogna '18, Kidd and Reed did a great job of minimizing big innings and keeping our team in a position to be successful."
 
Coach Paluga on his team's mindset heading into Wednesday's doubleheader with Fisher...
"It is import that in today's game that we played hard for nine innings. Our focus will be to play all nine innings on Wednesday, when we head into the first game of the doubleheader."
 
Inside the Box Score (Canton)

• Elmira was outhit in the contest 11-8.
• The Soaring Eagles committed one error in the game, while Canton finished two errors.
• Fogarty recorded a game-high three RBIs in the bout.
• Fogarty went 2-for-4 from the plate with the three RBIs and one run.
• Rudolph was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
• Rothenberg went 1-for-5 with two runs scored.
• Crossley, Bryce Plante '18 and Nate Hanner '18 also record hits in the contest.
• Kidd allowed four runs in 5.0 innings as the Soaring Eagles' starter.
• Reed gave up zero runs and allowed just two hits in 4.0 innings of relief in a winning effort.

 
Inside the Box Score (Fisher)

• The Soaring Eagles were outhit, 13-9.
• Both teams finished tied with four errors.
• Crossley led all players with a game-high four RBIs.
• Crossley went 2-for-4 from the plate.
• Rudolph was 2-for-3 with two doubles and one RBI.
• Bawiec went 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
• Five other Soaring Eagles recorded hits in the contest.
• Blake Phelps '19 allowed four runs in 5.0 innings pitched as EC's starter.
• Elmira used five relievers in the tilt.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira is an even 12-12 overall and 8-7 inside conference play.
• EC improved to 6-5 in home games at Dunn Field in 2017.
• The Soaring Eagles are now 4-4 in the all-time series against the Roos.
• Fisher's 13 runs are the third most by an EC opponent this season.
• Crossley's four RBIs in the second game are a season high for the rookie.
• Rudolph's two doubles in game two are a new season high.
• Fogarty's three RBIs in the first game tied a season high.
• Reed improves to 4-3 on the year, earning the win in his last two appearances.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will return to action with two more matchups against Fisher on Wednesday, April 26. The E8 doubleheader is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Rochester, New York.