STEVENSON, Md. -- Despite receiving home runs from three different players, the Elmira College baseball team fell to Stevenson University in a pair of non-conference games by scores of 14-6 and 16-3 on the road in Stevenson, Maryland, on Sunday.

Mark Ryan '21 launched the first home run of his collegiate career in the early game, while the Soaring Eagles (2-8) received a late power surge from Tommy Fogarty '20 and Joe Morrone '22 in the nightcap. EC managed to outhit the Mustangs (6-1) by a 10-to-9 margin in the late game, but overall, Stevenson finished with a 27-to-17 advantage in the hit column.

Stevenson 14, Elmira 6
The Soaring Eagles struck first and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Mustangs responded by pounding out 18 hits and scoring all 14 of their runs in the first four innings.

In the top of the first, Jack Volpe '20 led off with an infield single, stole second, and then scored when the Stevenson second baseman made a wild throw trying to beat Joey Florio '20 to first on another infield base hit. However, Stevenson's first three batters in the home half of the frame got things going with a trio of hits, as the Mustangs scored four times to take a 4-1 lead.

The Stevenson lead expanded to 8-1 in the second, and the Mustangs concluded their scoring with another four-spot in the bottom of the fourth.

EC chipped away at the deficit with one run in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the sixth. Volpe tripled and scored in the third, and Ryan came up with a pair of extra-base hits in the fourth and sixth innings. With two outs, Ryan doubled home a run, before scoring on a Shane Hake '21 bunt single. The junior infielder followed that up with his first collegiate homer, a two-run shot, in the sixth.

Stevenson 16, Elmira 3
While the final score may indicate otherwise, the Soaring Eagles concluded the seven-inning series finale with a 10-to-9 advantage in hits. However, the pitching staff handed out 11 free passes and the defense committed four errors, leading the Mustangs to a lopsided win. Most of the damage done by the Mustangs came in the second and fourth innings, as Stevenson posted six runs in the second and eight more in the fourth.

Down, but not entirely out, Elmira spoiled the shutout attempt in the late innings with a run in the sixth and two in the seventh. Morrone's first at-bat of the afternoon was a loud double to the opposite field in right, and a Felix De La Cruz '23 single put runners on the corners. Luke Frontale '22 stepped to the plate as a pinch-hitter and picked up an RBI with a ground ball that resulted in an error by the first baseman. First-year infielder Jarod Signorelli '23 loaded the bases with his first career hit, but Stevenson reliever Vaughn Steeves entered out of the bullpen and got the two outs he needed to strand the bases full.

In the seventh, Fogarty and Morrone each cleared the outfield wall at Stevenson's Suger Field with back-to-back solo home runs. Both dingers came on 3-1 counts, as the left-handed Fogarty pulled the ball out to right field and the right-handed Morrone crushed his moon shot into the power alley in left-center.

News and Notes

• For the second time in as many days and the third time in their last five games, the Soaring Eagles finished a game with more hits than the opposition.
• The first three home runs of the 2020 seaon all came on Sunday against Stevenson.
• Ryan posted his first multi-hit game of the season with a double and his first career home run in the first game.
• Fogarty and Morrone each hit their second career homers in the seventh inning of the late game.
• David Kruis '23 made his first pitching appearances of the season with an inning of work in each contest on Sunday.
• Kruis did not allow a hit, struck out three, and was one walk shy of two perfect innings.
• First-year lefty Jordan Rawn '23 made his collegiate debut with an inning of work in the second game.
• Fellow freshman Signorelli also made his season debut, as the rookie infielder entered as a defensive sub in the opening game, before picking up his first hit as a Soaring Eagle in the nightcap.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will look to rebound next Saturday, March 7, when they visit Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for a doubleheader against Franklin & Marshall College. First pitch against the Diplomats is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.