ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College softball team is set for a busy weekend upcoming, as the Soaring Eagles begin Empire 8 Conference play with a doubleheader against the Stevens Institute of Technology. Opening pitch for the twin bill is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Elmira split a doubleheader against Cazenovia College on Sunday, March 25, at Eldridge Park Stadium. The Purple and Gold put on an offensive clinic in the opening game, as every player picked up at least one hit en route to a lopsided 14-2 victory. Each of the top four batters in the lineup produced multiple hits, including three apiece from
Maddy Johnson '19,
Cassie Hill '20 and
Emily Clark '19.
McKenzie Slaven '20 tossed all five innings, allowing just two runs with four strikeouts in her first career start in the pitcher's circle. The Wildcats earned a slim win in the nightcap by a 5-3 final score to salvage the series split.
CLUTCH CAROLYN
In her first two seasons at Elmira,
Carolyn Corcoran '19 drove in a combined 10 runs in 32 games played. However, in the two-game set against Cazenovia, the third-year infielder from Mechanicville, New York, produced five RBIs and enters this weekend with the team lead in that category. She played a big role in EC's blowout in the first game, as Corcoran tied a career high with three RBIs, two of which came on a third-inning single. She then drove in a run in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly. Although she missed the season-opening game, Corcoran is hitting .400 with a .600 slugging percentage to go along with a perfect rate in the field, too.
MAD MADDY
Maddy Johnson '19 opened her junior season on a tear over the weekend. The standout center fielder leads the Empire 8 Conference with a ridiculous .900 batting average. After striking out in her first at-bat of the year against Hilbert, Johnson logged hits in each of her following nine plate appearances. She finished with seven hits in seven tries against the Wildcats on Sunday and legged out her first-ever triple in the opening game. The pride of Rome, Pennsylvania, led the team in batting average during both her freshman and sophomore seasons, so it should come as little surprise she's at it again in 2018.
MORRISVILLEÂ RAINED OUT
The Soaring Eagles were originally scheduled to play a pair of doubleheaders this weekend, as Morrisville State was scheduled to play at Eldridge Park Stadium on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately due to field conditions, those contests have been postponed with a make-up date to be determined at a later time.Â
SCOUTING STEVENS
The Ducks roll into this weekend's Empire 8-opener with a 3-7 overall record this season. This mark has been greatly affected by recent slumping play, as Stevens has lost five of its last six games. The lone victory was a 5-3 win over New York University in the team's most recent contest on Wednesday, March 28. A majority of the Ducks' struggles are related to their shortcomings at the plate. Stevens ranks seventh in the eight-team E8 in both runs scored per game (3.50) and batting average (.272). This lack of run production has put a strain on the pitching staff, as it is seventh in the conference with a 4.96 ERA. Junior Christine LaRochelle commands the Stevens pitching staff, as she paces the team in both innings pitched (28.2) and ERA (3.42). Offensively, senior infielder Lauren Shirley has been the team's most effective hitter, as she owns a team-high .455 batting average.
UP NEXT
Elmira will remain on the road following this weekend's activities to challenge Medaille College on Thursday, April 5, in Buffalo, New York. The first pitch of the opening game is scheduled to take place at 3:00 p.m.
