ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College baseball team used a seven-run first inning and a season-high 14 runs to win in its 2021 Empire 8 Conference opener in the first half of Wednesday's doubleheader against Utica College at historic Dunn Field.

Elmira 14, Utica 6
The Soaring Eagles (3-10, 1-1 E8) put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in three of the first four innings and led by as many as 11 runs in the early game. Highlighting the victory was a seven-spot in the first. Elmira sent 11 men to the plate in the inning, which began with a bang when James Delaney '22 doubled over the left fielder's head and scored on a Jared Money '22 base hit.

Utica starter James Roeschlaub only made things worse after an error loaded the bases with only one out. Roeschlaub walked Luke Frontale '22 and plunked Shane Hake '21 to force home a pair of runs. He also hit Jarod Signorelli '23 on the first pitch before throwing away a wild pitch during Delaney's second plate appearance of the frame.

Delaney added an RBI single to the ledger, which induced another error from the Utica shortstop and allowed Signorelli to trot home from second base, extending Elmira's cushion to 7-0.

With starting pitcher Taber Carter '21 in control, the Soaring Eagles added four runs in the third and three more in the fourth for their largest lead of the day, 14-3. The winning pitcher of record, Carter, scattered four runs (three earned) across 5.0 innings. The senior righty struck out three on 82 pitches.

Utica 12, Elmira 4
Momentum from a hot start proved to be the difference-maker once again, but this time it helped the Pioneers capture a win. Noah Barber slugged a two-run homer over the wall in left in the top of the first and Utica never looked back. The Pioneers posted two more runs in the second and third as they climbed out to a 6-0 lead.

Colin McLaughlin '22 broke EC's shutout in the fourth with an RBI single. Frontale's patience at the plate helped Elmira load the bases with a four-pitch walk, but Utica starter Brendon Sarnowski got the ground ball he needed for an inning-ending double play.

Trailing 12-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, the Soaring Eagles made an attempt at a comeback. Mason Ryan '22 crushed a triple into the right-center gap, followed by a double off the bat of Jourdan Plaisted '21. With two outs and the bases loaded, relief pitcher Justin McKenna walked in a run, but at the end of his leash, was then pulled in favor of Donovan Felder. Felder wasted little time dousing the fire and set Angus Adams '22 down on three pitches.

News and Notes

• Elmira won its Empire 8 opener for the first time since 2017.
• With the win in the nightcap, Utica maintained its one-game lead in the all-time series, 9-8.
• The Soaring Eagles logged season highs in runs (14) and RBIs (10) in the win.
• All of EC's hits in the opening contest came from Nos. 1-5 in the lineup, including two-hit performances from Delaney (2-for-2), Money (2-for-4), and Plaisted (2-for-3).
• Money had a team-high three RBIs and scored three runs from the No. 2 spot in the victory.
• Ryan, who hit 3-for-4 in the nightcap, led all Soaring Eagles with a combined four hits and five runs against the Pioneers.
• Plaisted and McLaughlin each finished with three hits on Wednesday.
• Carter improved to 2-1 on the mound and led all EC pitchers with three strikeouts.

Up Next
The Empire 8 slate continues on Saturday, April 10, when the Soaring Eagles visit Keuka College for a doubleheader. The first matchup begins at 1:00 p.m. and represents the first-ever conference meeting between EC and the Wolves, the E8's newest member.