Game One: Elmira College 8, SUNY Poly 7 (8 inn.)
Game Two: SUNY Poly 3, Elmira College 0
Records: Elmira (6-4), SUNY Poly (3-11)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- On a sunny but viciously windy afternoon at Eldridge Park Stadium, the Elmira College softball team split a non-league doubleheader with visiting SUNY Poly. The Soaring Eagles won a wild 15-run eight-inning game in the opener, 8-7, before falling to the Wildcats in game two, 3-0.
 
Game One
The Elmira women found themselves down by as many as three runs in opening contest, but a ferocious rally and some late-inning magic helped the Soaring Eagles secure their sixth consecutive win of the season.
 
SUNY Poly jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but an RBI single through the heart of the infield by Sarah Garner '20 in the bottom half of the first trimmed the deficit to just one run, 2-1. Garner's RBI single scored the speedy Maddy Johnson '19 all the way from second base.
 
The Wildcats reclaimed a two-run lead in the top of the third inning, but a monster solo home run by Sam Chadbourne '19 in the bottom of the fourth inning brought the score to 3-2. However, SUNY Poly answered with two additional runs in the top of the fifth inning to take its largest lead of the contest, 5-2.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning for the Soaring Eagles, EC's starting pitcher retired the Wildcats 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth, setting up an offensive outburst by the Purple and Gold in the bottom half of the sixth frame.
 
Garner began the sixth-inning rally with a lead-off double to left field, which was followed by a four-pitch walk by Chadbourne. Following a pop out on the ensuing at-bat, Elmira's Ally Barr '21 ripped a single through the middle of the infield to score Garner from second and cut the lead to 5-3. Chadbourne advanced to third, while Barr made her way to second on a throw from centerfield to home plate.
 
Rookie Felicity Brockhuizen '22 kept the one-out rally going by sliding a single between the shortstop and second basemen, a hit that scored Chadbourne and advanced Barr to third.
 
With just a one-run deficit, Samantha Jenkins '20 showcased her speed with a bunt single on the ensuing at-bat to load the bases. Following a strikeout, senior Rachel Katzenberger '19 came up clutch on a 3-1 count and drove a pitch the opposite direction to left field, scoring both Barr and Brockhuizen to give Elmira its first lead of the day, 6-5.
 
Mckenzie Slaven '20 looked to close out the Wildcats in the top of the seventh inning, but was one-out shy of doing so, as SUNY Poly plated the tying run to force extra innings.
 
SUNY Poly plated a go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning behind a sacrifice fly, but Elmira would not go away quietly in this one.
 
Alexis Dinga '22 began the inning on second base per the international tiebreaker rules and a one-out single through the left side of the infield by Jenkins scored Dinga to tie the score at 7-7. Jenkins advanced to second on the throw to home plate.
 
A wild pitch allowed Jenkins to advance to third base, before a bunt single by Johnson put runners on the corners. Johnson eventually swiped second base to add additional pressure on the Wildcats.
 
On the ensuing at-bat, Jenkins baited the SUNY Poly defense to pick her off. However, Jenkins played the defense perfectly, as she forced an early throw that set her up to steal home. The play at the plate was late, as Jenkins slid under the tag to lift the Soaring Eagles to a thrilling 8-7 victory.
 
Jenkins finished the game perfect at the plate, 4-for-4, with one RBI and a run scored.  Garner was not far behind with a 3-for-4 showing at the dish, which included a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Johnson also finished with a multi-hit performance, as she went 2-for-5 with one run scored.
 
Katzenberger led EC with a pair of RBIs on a 1-for-3 showing at the plate, while Chadbourne led EC in runs scored with two. Chadbourne was also 1-for-3 at the plate with one home run and one walk.
 
Slaven picked up the win in the pitcher's circle after tossing 8.0 innings. She finished with four strikeouts and of the seven runs allowed, five were earned.
 
Game Two
After a 24-hit, 15-run contest in game one, today's nightcap could not have been more different, as a pitcher's duel broke out at Eldridge Park. A combined nine hits were registered, three for EC and six for SUNY Poly, as the Wildcats escaped game two with a 3-0 win.
 
All three runs scored were unearned, as a slew of errors set up runs in the first and third innings for the Wildcats. The early three-run cushion was more than enough for SUNY Poly's Jordan Penoyer, who tossed a complete-game shutout for the win.
 
Although EC's starting pitcher, Barr, took the loss in the nightcap, the local product of Elmira High School had a strong outing with six strikeouts and zero earned runs in a 7.0 innings of work.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira extended its winning streak to six games, before falling in game two this evening.
• EC played in its first extra-innings contest of the season.
• Jenkins scored the game-winning run on a walk-off steal of home plate in game one.
• Jenkins was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in game one.
• Garner logged a pair of extra-base hits, both doubles, in game one.
• Katzenberger led EC in RBIs in game one with two.
• Chadbourne scored a team-high two runs in game one.
• Chadbourne hit her team-leading third home run of the 2019 campaign.
• Johnson, Garner, Barr, Dinga, F. Brockhuizen, and Jenkins scored one run apiece.
• Slaven picked up the win in game one, her third of the season.
• Garner logged her team-leading fourth double of the season.
• Johnson moved into sole possession of fifth place in EC history for career hits (106).
• Johnson is one run away from moving into a two-way tie for 10th place in EC history.
• Chadbourne is one home run shy of moving into a tie for eighth place in EC history for career home runs.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back in action this Friday, April 5, when they host the Saxons of Alfred University in an Empire 8 Conference doubleheader. The opening pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. at Eldridge Park Stadium.