ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College softball team takes a break from Empire 8 Conference play on Monday, April 3, when it challenges SUNY Canton in a non-conference doubleheader at Eldridge Park Stadium. The opening game of the twin bill is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT: The Soaring Eagles fell in both ends of an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader against Nazareth College on Sunday, April 2, in Rochester, New York. The Golden Flyers jumped on Elmira early, plating in six runs in the top of the second inning to take a commanding 6-0 lead. Naz's hot batting continued in the third inning, as a Delaney St. George home run added three more insurance runs. EC's scored its first run of the contest in the fourth, as
Emily Clark '19 sent one over the fence for her first homer of the season. Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, this proved to be their lone score of the contest, as they fell 9-1. The second game started much more promisingly for Elmira, as an
Emily Carlin '17 single drove home
Maddy Johnson '19 to put the Purple and Gold up 1-0 early. Despite a strong start from Carlin - she allowed just the one run entering the fifth - the game got away from EC in the bottom of the inning, when Naz plated nine batters to end the contest in five.
MADDY'S MOMENTUM: Although the Elmira offense has not found its stroke in the opening of the season, Johnson continues to prove why she is one of the most efficient batters in the E8. Following a pair of 2-for-3 outings on Sunday against Naz, the Rome, Pennsylvania, native has gone 9-for-16 on the season, good for the conference's third best batting average (.563).
CLARK'S BOMB: Clark's homer in Sunday's contest against the Golden Flyers was the first by a Soaring Eagle this season. The Trumbull, Connecticut, product's home run was also the second of her young career.
SCOUTING SUNY CANTON: The Kangaroos enter today's contest with a 3-2 record following a trip to Little River, South Carolina, for the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic on March 12-16. Canton enters today's tilt well rested, as its most recent contest was a 6-1 win over Keystone College on March 16. The Roos' pitching staff has been the catalyst for their success in the start of the year. Canton is 2-0 in games in which it has held its opponents to two runs or less. Jordan Podkladek has been the Kangaroos' ace to start the season, as she was the winning pitcher in all three of their victories. Podkladek owns a 3-1 record and a 3.08 ERA in her first four contests. On the other hand, the Roos' offensive struggles have led to their losses. In both of their defeats, the Kangaroos were held scoreless. Despite the struggles on offense, junior outfielder Stefanie Miller has played well, as she boasts a team-leading .429 batting average and her team-high-tying four runs scored. Junior utility player Desiree Pryce has also played well during the South Carolina trip, as she hit at a .357 clip with a team-high five RBIs.
SERIES HISTORY: Today's meeting marks the first all-time contest between Elmira and Canton. The Roos stand as the only team on the EC schedule that the Purple and Gold have not faced before this season.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Soaring Eagles will get a day of rest before welcoming non-conference foe Medaille College to Eldridge Park Stadium for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 5. The opening game of the twin bill is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.
