Score: Utica College 14, Elmira College 8
Score: Utica College 15, Elmira College 5
Records: Utica (9-7, 3-2 E8), Elmira (1-15, 1-6 E8)
Location: Clinton, N.Y. -- Loop Road Baseball Complex

CLINTON, N.Y. -- Pitching woes cost the Elmira College baseball team a chance at a series victory over Utica College on Saturday, as Pioneers swept the Soaring Eagles by scores of 14-8 and 15-5 to win the Empire 8 Conference series two-games-to-one at Hamilton College's Loop Road Baseball Complex in Clinton, New York.

Game One
In the seven-inning opener, the two team's combined to score 16 runs in the first three innings. Unfortunately for EC, 11 of those runs were scored by the Pioneers. Starter Nick Cottone '19 was the victim of the early onslaught, as the third-year righty allowed 10 runs on nine hits. The defense in the field was unable to provide much support either; the Purple and Gold committed five of a season-worst six errors in the first three innings alone.

At the plate, Sam Plaugher '20, Dennis Rudolph '18, and Tommy Fogarty '20 all singled and scored in the top half of the first, giving Elmira an early 3-0 lead. Down 5-3 in the top of the second, both Eddie O'Donnell IV '18 and Bryce Plante '18 smacked two-baggers, with the former leading off the frame and the latter plating O'Donnell. Conor Bawiec '18 evened the score at 5-all with an RBI single, but the Pioneers tacked on two runs in the home half of the second and four in the third to take the lead for good.

The Soaring Eagles looked to rally late. Three runs were driven in the top of the fifth, two of which were the result of a Fogarty double. However, trailing by the final score of 14-8 in the top of the sixth, Elmira left the bases loaded without scoring any runs.

Game Two
The red-hot bats of Utica continued to swing at a ferocious pace in the nightcap. The Pioneers, who entered the series ranked second in the Empire 8 in team batting average, exploded for seven runs in the first inning and never looked back. Matt Fitzgerald had the biggest blow in the first with a grand slam, but Christian Tiffin followed with a two-run homer to chase EC starter Nick Sampogna '18 from the mound.

The top-five batters in the Elmira lineup all produced at least one hit, but it wasn't enough firepower to match the Pioneers. Plaugher, the lead-off man, and No. 2 hitter Plante each both finished 2-for-5 in the late game. Fogarty also had a pair of hits and three-hole hitter Rudolph flashed his wheels by legging out a triple in the seventh.

The last three relievers out of the bullpen kept Utica off of the scoreboard after the fifth inning. Anthony Colegrove '18 and Alex Crysler '21 both tossed a scoreless inning, and Blake Phelps '19 notched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.

News and Notes

• Elmira's 1-15 overall record matches the worst start in the program's brief four-year history.
• Utica won the E8 series against Elmira for the first time since EC's inaugural season in 2015.
• The Soaring Eagles recorded double-digit hits in all three games of the series vs. Utica, the longest such streak of the year.
• Rudolph managed to extend his on-base streak to 16 in a row to open his senior season.
• Rudolph has a hit in 11 consecutive contests, too.
• Plante's on-base streak was lengthened as well, as the senior shortstop has reached safely in 11 straight.
• Crysler made just the second appearance of his rookie season on the mound in the nightcap and notched his first scoreless outing.
• Shane Hake '20 scored his first collegiate run as a pinch-runner for the Soaring Eagles in the second game on Saturday.
• Justin Iannotto '20 picked up a hit in his first at-bat of the year on Saturday.

Up Next
The Purple and Gold will face the Wolves of Keuka College in a non-conference tilt on Tuesday, April 3, in Keuka Park, New York. The first pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.