Game One: Houghton College 3, Elmira College 2
Game Two: Houghton College 3, Elmira College 0
Records: Houghton (9-13, 4-2 E8), Elmira (6-6, 0-2 E8)
Location: Eldridge Park Stadium – Elmira, N.Y.
                     
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College softball was unable to complete a late-inning rally in game one and in game two some stingy pitching vaulted the Highlanders of Houghton College to a pair of Empire 8 Conference wins over the Soaring Eagles on Saturday afternoon. EC dropped its conference-opening game by a single run, 3-2, before suffering a 3-0 setback in the nightcap.
 
Game One
Despite a solid pitching performance from Mckenzie Slaven '20 and an all-around defensive team effort in the field, the Soaring Eagles were unable to cash-in with runners in scoring position, as the Highlanders edged EC by a 3-2 final score. A total of eight baserunners were left stranded by Elmira. 
 
Houghton plated three runs through the first three innings, all of which were generated from the bat of Taylor Sile, who laced an RBI triple in the first and a one-out two-RBI single in the third inning.
 
The Highlanders maintained their three-run lead until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the Soaring Eagles staged a comeback.
 
With one out, Carolyn Corcoran '19 singled to right field and was followed by another single, this one from Samantha Jenkins '20, to place runners on first and second. Maddy Johnson '19 then reached safely on a fielding error, which sent Jenkins to third and scored Corcoran. Johnson also advanced to second on the same play thanks to a throwing error from Houghton's right fielder.
 
An RBI groundout by Rachel Katzenberger '19 plated Jenkins and cut the Highlander lead to just one, 3-2, with two outs.
 
Unfortunately, Elmira's rally ended on the next at-bat, as Slaven nearly beat-out a play at first, but the third-year talent was thrown out by a half step to end the game.
 
In the pitcher's circle, Slaven ended the contest with a game-high nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings of action.
 
Corcoran paced the Purple and Gold's offense with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate with one run scored. Jenkins also logged a pair of hits with a 2-for-4 effort this afternoon, which also saw her score one run. Katzenberger produced EC's lone RBI on the day.
 
Game Two
The nightcap showcased both teams' defenses, as neither squad was able to break through for a run through five full innings. Both starting pitchers, Houghton's Sile and Elmira's Ally Barr '21, did a fine job of mixing up speeds and locations on their pitches to keep opposing batters on their heels.
 
However, the Highlanders were able to break the stalemate in the top of the sixth inning on a two-out three-run home run from Mariah Rogers. After taking one pitch for a ball, Rogers turned on an inside pitch and drove it over the left-field fencing to give Houghton a 3-0 lead.
 
Another rally looked like it would transpire in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Sarah Garner '20 and Katzenberger found themselves on third and second base, respectively, with two outs. However, Houghton's Sile was able to get the next batter to ground out, closing the door on a comeback and securing a three-run win for the Highlanders.
 
Barr tossed a full 7.0 innings for Elmira and struck out two batters.
 
News and Notes

• Today's doubleheader was the first of three home E8 twin bills on EC's schedule.
• EC's last 10 games have been played at Eldridge Park Stadium.
• Corcoran, Garner, Jenkins and Slaven all finished with two hits on the day.
• Corcoran's two hits in game one was a season high.
• Corcoran's four putouts in game two were a season high.
• Slaven's nine strikeouts in game one is her second-highest total of the season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon, when they welcome Alfred University to Eldridge Park Stadium for a 1:00 p.m. Empire 8 doubleheader.