Game One: Elmira College 8, Houghton College 4
Game Two: Houghton College 3 – Elmira College 2
Records: Elmira (3-4, 1-3 E8), Houghton (8-16, 1-7 E8)
Location: Houghton Softball Field-- Houghton, N.Y.
 
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The Elmira College softball team split its doubleheader against Empire 8 Conference foe Houghton College today in Houghton, New York. The Purple and Gold's offense exploded for eight runs in the first game on its way to an 8-4 win, while in the second, the Highlanders walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning after orchestrating a one-run comeback, 3-2.

The EC bats came alive in the first game, scoring eight runs. The action began in the first inning, as the Soaring Eagles scored three times. Maddy Johnson '19 started the surge with a lead-off single, before EC's starting pitcher McKenzie Slaven '20 earned a walk to put two on with one out. Emily Clark '19 then stepped to the plate and belted a one-run double to center field. An error by Houghton's shortstop and a Sarah Garner '20 single accounted for two more runs to give the Purple and Gold a 3-0 lead.

At the top of the third inning, EC first baseman Sam Chadbourne '19 smashed a home run to give Elmira a 4-0 advantage. The dinger is the first of Chadbourne's three-year career.

Slaven was fantastic on the mound, as she pitched a complete game to earn her second win of the season. The local product from nearby Horseheads, New York, struck out eight to double her season total to 16, while allowing three earned runs on 11 hits. All four runs scored by the Highlanders came after the fourth inning.

The Purple and Gold sealed the opening-game victory with a four-run top of the fifth inning. It was a team effort in the frame, as Elmira used five singles to add to its lead. Johnson, Allie Krohn '20, Samantha Jenkins '20 and Hannah Lundgren '18 all tallied RBIs in the frame.

In the second game, the Soaring Eagles took until the fourth inning to score their first run. Trailing 1-0, Clark hit a triple to drive Cassie Hill '20 home from first base. The triple is Clark's second of the season and the third of her career.

Elmira added to its lead in the top of the seventh inning following a lead-off single from Garner. After advancing to third base on two consecutive groundouts, Garner reached home after a Johnson hit was misplayed by the Houghton second baseman.

Katie McDougal '18 started the second game for EC and was strong for 6.0 innings, as she allowed just the one run until the final frame. In the seventh, an error by Chadbourne and a walk put two on with zero outs. Slaven then came in to get the final three outs. Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, the Highlanders tallied back-to-back singles with the bases loaded to steal a 3-2 walk-off victory.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira's record now stands at 3-4 overall and at 1-3 in conference play.
• EC's eight runs and 12 hits in the opener are the second-most the team has tallied this season.
• The advantage in the all-time series between these two teams remains in the hands of the Soaring Eagles, as they own a 14-3 lead over the Highlanders.
• Chadbourne's home run in the opener is the first of her career.
• Chadbourne's two starts today are the first of her junior campaign.
• Slaven struck out a season-high eight batters in the first game.
• The last EC pitcher to strike out eight batters was McDougal, who did so in 8.0 innings against SUNY Canton on April 3, 2017.
• Garner posted her first career three-hit game in the opener.
• Johnson went 0-for-4 in the finale, her first game of 2018 without a hit.
• Clark's triple is her team-leading second of the year.

 
Up Next
The Elmira women will be back at the field tomorrow afternoon, when they head to Alfred, New York, to challenge Alfred University. The opening game of the twin bill is slated to start at 1:00 p.m.