Game One: Utica College 4, Elmira College 2
Game Two: Utica College 9, Elmira College 1 (6 inn.)
Records: Utica (10-14, 2-2 E8), Elmira (3-6, 1-5 E8)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- On a frigid evening at Eldridge Park Stadium, the Elmira College softball team dropped a pair of Empire 8 Conference contests to visiting Utica College. The Pioneers, who served as the home team in today's games due to a last-minute venue change, edged the Soaring Eagles, 4-2, in the opening game and concluded the evening with a 9-1 victory in a six-inning shortened contest.
 
In game one, Utica took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a one-out double by Utica's Madison Aktos. Elmira answered with two runs of its own in the top of the second inning thanks to some two-out magic. The EC rally began with a single by Hannah Lundgren '18, which was followed by Allie Krohn '20 reaching safely on a dropped ball by Utica's first baseman. On the next at-bat, a wild pitch allowed Lundgren and Krohn to advance to second and third, setting the table for a two-RBI double by Samantha Jenkins '20. The Jenkins at-bat was particularly impressive, in that after falling behind in the count, 0-2, she worked the count back to 3-2 and saved herself with four foul balls, before doubling to left field.
 
The following inning, Elmira's defense looked to be on pace to hold the Utica offense scoreless. However, a two-out walk by Samantha Whitehouse and a Brigid Johndrow single, along with an Elmira error, allowed Whitehouse to cross home plate and put the Pioneers back on top by one run in the bottom of the second inning, 3-2.
 
The Soaring Eagles threatened with base runners in the top of the sixth and seventh innings, but they were unable to capitalize on their chances. On the other hand, Utica was able to plate an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, which all but sealed a 4-2 win for the Pioneers.
 
Horseheads, New York, native McKenzie Slaven '20 had a strong performance in game one, both in the pitcher's circle and at the plate. Slaven tossed 6.0 innings of four-run ball, allowing three earned runs with a trio of strikeouts. At the plate, Slaven went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
 
Game two of today's doubleheader was a much more one-sided affair, as Utica piled on the runs late in the game to secure a 9-1 win in six innings.
 
Elmira opened the nightcap by loading the bases thanks to an error and a bevy of fielder's choices that did not result in an out. Those mental mistakes by UC produced an Elmira run, as Maddy Johnson '19 crossed the plate with zero outs on a fielder's choice. Unfortunately, this was all the offense Elmira would muster, as Utica retired the next three batters to minimize the damage and hold EC's lead at 1-0.
 
The Utica offense scored in bunches from that point on, putting two runs on the board in the first inning, three runs in the third inning and a whopping four runs in the sixth inning to end the contest prematurely in the sixth.
 
Although Utica ran away with the nightcap, Elmira had chances to score throughout the game but was just unable to capitalize at the right moments. EC stranded two runners in the second inning, that after placing both players on base with just one out. Then in the fifth inning, Elmira loaded the bases with one out, but UC's starting pitcher, Alyssa Samborin, was able to get the next two batters to strike and ground out.
 
In the two games combined, Slaven produced the best batting average (.667), while Johnson logged the most hits with a 3-for-7 showing at the dish. Johnson, along with Lundgren and Krohn, were the only players to score a run in today's contests. Jenkins led EC with a pair of RBIs, while Emily Clark '19 drove in one run.
 
News and Notes

• Although today's game was played on EC's home field, Utica served as the home team.
• Johnson has produced at least one hit in eight-of-nine games this season.
• Johnson has also scored a run in five of the nine games.
• Slaven fanned three batters, bringing her season total to a team-leading 20 strikeouts.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from today's setback tomorrow afternoon, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on Alfred University in an Empire 8 doubleheader. The opening pitch for game one is set for 3:00 p.m. in Alfred, New York.