ELMIRA, N.Y. -- After a two-year hiatus, the Elmira College softball team returned to Eldridge Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader against Alfred State. The Pioneers (2-0) won both games against the Soaring Eagles (0-2) by 7-6 and 8-4 scores.
 
Alfred State 7, Elmira 6
Elmira led by as many as three runs in the opening game of the doubleheader, and by a 5-3 score as late as the top of the fourth inning, but the Pioneers rallied to secure a one-run victory in the season opener.
 
Trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth, Elmira loaded the bases with two outs. Madison Brown-Bloom '23 stepped to the plate and mashed the first pitch she saw to center field, scoring Katie Distefano '24 and what appeared to be Alexis Dinga '22, which at the time tied the game at 7-7. However, following an appeal from Alfred State, Dinga was called out at home and the Pioneers would eventually escape with a one-run win.
 
Jillian Cortez '23 led the Elmira offense with a 2-for-2 showing at the dish and a pair of RBIs. She drove in the game-opening run on a double and then gave Elmira a three-run lead in the second inning with an RBI single.
 
Cortez also started the game in the pitcher's circle for Elmira. She tossed 3.0 innings, giving up three runs but just two earned runs. She struck out two batters and allowed three hits.
 
Distefano was a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Alex Brockhuizen '22 and Dinga were 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored apiece. Brown-Bloom also drove in one run on a 1-for-4 showing.
 
Ally Barr '21 came in for relief duty and logged 4.0 innings. She fanned three batters, while allowing four runs, two earned.
 
Alfred State 8, Elmira 4
Elmira jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a pair of home runs from Distefano and Cortez. Distefano launched a solo shot on the second pitch she saw, which gave Elmira a 1-0 lead. Then, with Dinga on first, Cortez went deep to left-center field for a two-run shot.
 
Alfred State scored eight unanswered runs, four of which came in the top of the third inning, to take control of the nightcap. Of the eight runs scored, only two were earned.
 
Cortez brought EC to within four runs in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double that scored Hannah Flagg '24, but that was as close as it would get, as the Pioneers held on for the win.
 
Cortez finished with three RBIs and one run scored on a 2-for-3 showing at the dish. She also made a relief pitching appearance and tossed 3.0 innings of three-run ball. Only one of the three runs scored were earned.
 
Barr got the start in the pitcher's circle and went 4.0 innings deep. She struck out four batters and gave up five runs with one earned run.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira played its first game since April 27, 2019.
• Randie Torgalski made his head coaching debut with the EC softball program.
• Cortez hit a two-run home run, the first of her career.
• Cortez made her first appearance in the pitcher's circle.
• Cortez ended the day with five RBIs.
• Distefano recorded the first home run of her collegiate career.
• Bella DeAmelia '24 logged her first career hit.
• Brown-Bloom registered the first hit of her career.

 
Up Next
The Elmira women are back in action this Wednesday, March 24, when they travel to take on the Bombers of Ithaca College in a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.