Score (Game One): Elmira College 8, Alfred State College 0
Score (Game Two): Elmira College 10, Alfred State College 0
Records: Elmira (6-11), Alfred State (0-25)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium -- Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The bats came alive for the Elmira College softball team today, as a pair of home runs by Emily Clark '19 led the Soaring Eagles to a doubleheader sweep of Alfred State College at Eldridge Park Stadium in non-conference action. The Soaring Eagles took the first game by an 8-0 final score in five innings, before earning a 10-0 triumph in the nightcap.
 
Game One
The action began in the bottom of the opening frame, as a Maddy Johnson '19 walk and stolen base put the speedy centerfielder into scoring position. Two consecutive ground-outs, the second of which was off the bat of McKenzie Slaven '20, plated Johnson to put the Soaring Eagles up 1-0 after one frame.

The action began to pick up in the bottom of the third inning, as this was the frame that Clark hit her first home run of the afternoon. With Sarah Garner '20 on base after she was hit by a pitch, Clark stepped to the bag and belted a two-run moon shot over the left-field wall. The homer put EC up 3-0 heading into the fourth frame.

Elmira began to pour it on in the fourth inning, as it scored three more runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. The inning was highlighted by a Clark double to left that plated Slaven following a double of her own earlier in the inning. With the extra-base hit, Clark went 2-for-2 on the day with a home run, a double, three RBIs and a run scored.

The bout was sealed in next inning, as two more runs by the Soaring Eagles gave EC the eight-run advantage, 8-0, it needed to take the win. With both Samantha Jenkins '20 and Johnson on base, Rachel Katzenberger '19 stepped to the plate and hammered a two-run triple to left that ended the contest.

Slaven started the game for EC and went all 5.0 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. Slaven had her stuff working throughout the contest, as she did not face more than four batters in an inning, which included three-up-three-down first and fifth frames.
 
Game Two
EC started the second bout much quicker than the first, as they scored a combined nine runs in the first two innings. Elmira's strong opening inning was caused by fielding errors by the Pioneers, as all four of EC' runs were unearned. Johnson kicked off the frame with a walk. She would score on the next at-bat, when a Katzenberger sacrifice bunt attempt led to a throwing error by Alfred State's third baseman, which allowed Johnson to get home from first. Katzenberger would score a few pitches later, as she was able to get home from third after a throwing error by the opposing catcher.

The final two runs of the first were both scored on back-to-back doubles by Sam Chadbourne '19 and Bianca Palese '21. Chadbourne drove Clark home from first, while Palese plated Chadbourne following her extra-base hit.

With a 4-0 advantage, EC added five more insurance runs in the second inning. Garner plated the first of the runs with an RBI double to get Johnson home from second. One batter later, Clark sent her second ball of the day out to the fans to put EC up 7-0. Clark hit her second home run, which came with two outs, even further than the first, as it flew over the second fence in left. Katie McDougal '19 added two more runs with a double to left center to put the game well in EC's hands.

McDougal, Elmira's starting pitcher, was fantastic in the circle, as she went the full 5.0 innings and struck out seven, while allowing just five hits. The senior worked herself out of a jam in the top of the fifth, as she was able to get the final out with runners on first and second base, earning a strikeout to seal the 10-0 non-conference victory at home.
 
 In Her Own Words…
Head Coach Rhonda Faunce shares her thoughts on Elmira's play this afternoon…
"It was nice to watch them play relaxed and have some fun. That has been missing with the team this year. It was a nice day and I was happy to be able and get everyone some playing time in the games."
 
Coach Faunce on Clark's performance in today's sweep…
"Honestly, she has struggled this season at times because she has been thinking way too much. It was great to see her hit two homers today because she is such a great kid. That second one was a shot! It was just the second time in 30 years that I have seen a ball get over the second fence in left."
 
Coach Faunce on the performance out of Elmira's two pitchers…
"Both pitchers had good control and pitched solid games. It was nice to see them so relaxed after having some insurance runs. That makes a pitcher throw a lot better when the offense scores run."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira improves to 6-11 on the season with the win.
• Today's doubleheader sweep was EC's first this season.
• The Soaring Eagles' 10 runs in the second game are the team's second-highest scoring output of the season.
• Elmira improves to 5-3 in non-conference action this season.
• The two shut-out victories are also EC's first of 2018.
• Clark has surpassed her previous career high in homers with three this season.
• The last Soaring Eagle to hit homers in back-to-back games was Alex Puglisi, who did so against Stockton College in the 2014 campaign.
• Clark is now tied with Heidi Maxwell '00 for seventh in program history with six career home runs.
• The victory improves Slaven's pitching record on the year to .500 (4-4).
• Johnson went a combined 2-for-2 on the afternoon with four walks and five runs scored.
• Johnson's batting average sits at a team-leading .528 clip.
• Destiny Decker '21, Hannah Vignone '19, Taylor Pavese '21 and Tia Peck '21 all made their season debuts in the second game.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are right back at Eldridge Park Stadium tomorrow afternoon, as they battle The Sage Colleges in Empire 8 Conference action. The opening bout of the twin bill is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m.