Score (Game One): The Sage Colleges 6, Elmira College 3
Score (Game Two): Elmira College 6, The Sage Colleges 3
Records: Elmira (7-12, 3-9 E8), Sage (9-12, 3-7 E8)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium -- Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College softball team earned a doubleheader split against The Sage Colleges on Friday afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium. The Gators took the first game by a 6-3 final score, while the Soaring Eagles won the second bout, also by a 6-3 final score.
 
Game One
Sage began the opening game with a strong first inning, taking a 3-0 lead early in the contest. The Gators started the frame with two singles and a double, which plated the first run. The next two runs were scored on a passed ball and a wild pitch in back-to-back at-bats.

After Sage added another run in the top of the third inning, Elmira answered with its first runs of the day in the bottom of the frame. Rachel Katzenberger '19 put the Soaring Eagles on the scoreboard with a one-run double to center field. Sarah Garner '20 plated McKenzie Slaven '20 from second with single to cut EC's deficit to just two, 4-2.

The Gators added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning to secure a four-run lead, 6-2, heading into the seventh. In the final frame, Elmira got off to a good start by putting two batters on base with just one out. Maddy Johnson '19 began the inning with a walk, before a Slaven single drove the speedy center fielder home from second. Unfortunately for Elmira, that run would be its last of the game, as it was resigned to take the 6-3 setback.

Slaven started the contest in the pitching circle for the Soaring Eagles. The sophomore hurler went all 7.0 innings and allowed six runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts.
 
Game Two
Elmira started the second contest off much stronger than the first, as it held the Gators scoreless for the first two innings of the game. EC, on the other hand, plated two in the bottom of the second frame. Katie McDougal '18, Elmira's starting pitcher, opened the bout's scoring with an RBI single to right field. In the next at-bat, Samantha Jenkins '20 plated Sam Chadbourne '19 from third with an RBI groundout.

Sage answered in the third inning by taking a 3-2 lead of their own. After two singles and a walk by the Gators' first three batters, Destiny Wierzbicki stepped to the plate with a prime chance to put some runs on the scoreboard. The outfielder answered the call by slapping a bases-clearing double to left center.

EC did not stay down long, however, as it scored two more runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, 4-3. Emily Clark '19 plated the first run with a groundout that scored Slaven from third. Chadbourne then stepped to the bag and drove Garner home with a single to left.

The Soaring Eagles added insurance runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 6-3 advantage into the seventh. The final EC run was one to remember, as McDougal hit a ball to deep right field that allowed Allie Krohn '20 to score. McDougal used her speed to leg out a triple, the first of her collegiate career.   

In her final start at Eldridge Park Stadium, McDougal was strong in the pitching circle. The Pawling, New York, native went a complete 7.0 innings and allowed three runs with three strikeouts. McDougal got stronger as the game went on, as she posted three-up-three-down innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira is now 7-12 overall and 3-9 in conference play this season.
• EC is 6-9 at home this year.
• The Soaring Eagles and Gators remain tied in the all-time series with both teams owning a pair of wins.
• All three of McDougal's victories this season have come at Eldridge Park Stadium.
• McDougal's triple in game two is the first of her career.
• McDougal has tallied multiple RBIs in back-to-back games.
• Slaven's seven strikeouts in game one were one shy of tying the sophomore's season-high total.
• Krohn had two hits in game two, her second multi-hit game of the year.
• Johnson had a hit in both games today, which marks seven consecutive bouts with a hit for the junior.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles conclude the E8 portion of the 2018 schedule with a doubleheader against Alfred University tomorrow afternoon. EC and Alfred are slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.