Game One: Utica College 20, Elmira College 2 (5 inn.)
Game Two: Utica College 4, Elmira College 0
Records: Utica (17-19, 5-7 E8), Elmira (9-15, 3-11 E8)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The 2019 season came to close this afternoon for the Elmira College softball team, as the Soaring Eagles dropped an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader to visiting Utica College. Utica ran away in the opening game with a 20-2 win in five innings, before earning a 4-0 victory in the nightcap. In-between games this afternoon, the Soaring Eagles honored their graduating members of the Class of 2019.
                     
Additionally, Elmira College saw its longest-tenured coach, Rhonda Faunce, conclude her collegiate coaching career. Faunce, who took over the reins of the EC softball program in the spring of 1989, steps aside from coaching after 31 years and 401 victories.
 
Game One
Utica's offense exploded for 20 runs on 23 hits in the opening game of today's doubleheader. The Pioneers set the tone early with eight runs in the first inning, but EC responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Sarah Garner '20 drove-in Elmira's first run of the game with a hot shot through the left side of the infield to score Maddy Johnson '19, who led-off the inning with a single, from second base. Three batters later, Mckenzie Slaven '20 laced a single through the left-side of Utica's infield to plate Garner from third.
 
Unfortunately, this was as close as the opening game would get, as the Pioneers went on to score 12 unanswered runs to secure the win. Utica scored in each of the five innings, including two runs in the second, seven in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
 
Game Two
The second contest was much more closely contested, but the outcome remained the same, as the Pioneers marched away with a 4-0 win.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Utica put a three-spot on the scoreboard in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead.
 
Elmira threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning, as three of EC's first four batters reached safely. Garner led-off the inning with a single to right field, before Ally Barr '21 worked a seven-pitch walk. Following a fielder's choice, Slaven dropped down a well-placed bunt to load the bases with just one out. Unfortunately, the next two EC batters were unable to drive in any of the runners, as Utica maintained its 3-0 lead.
 
Utica went on to add one run in the top of the sixth inning, while Elmira was held scoreless over the next three innings to close out the game.
 
Barr got the start in the pitcher's circle and tossed 7.0 innings of four-run ball. She struck out two batters, walked two others and allowed eight hits.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira concludes the 2019 regular season.
• Elmira honored its graduating members of the Class of 2019 this afternoon.
• Faunce coached her final game with the Soaring Eagles after 31 seasons and 401 wins.
• Johnson produced her seventh multi-hit performance of the season.
• Johnson and Garner finished the season tied for the team lead in runs scored with 14.