ALFRED, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team made two late-inning comeback efforts against the Saxons from Alfred University on Thursday afternoon but came up just short, as the host team went on to take a 10-9 game one victory before winning game two 6-4.
On the day, Arian Wilcox '25 finished with four hits, while Jill Cortez '23 finished with three. In the circle, Cortez would be dealt with both losses on the day after allowing six runs (three earned) over five innings of work.
GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 9, Alfred 10 (Game One)
Elmira 4, Alfred 6 (Game Two)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (9-12, 2-7 E8), SUNY Poly (17-12, 8-2 EC)
LOCATION: Alfred, New York | Harrington Field
W|L|S: Jill Cortez (2-5) | Mikaela Perez (6-3) | Megan Bennett (3)
Jill Cortez (2-6) | Mikaela Perez (7-3) | Megan Bennett (4)
KEY MOMENT:
Despite outhitting the Saxons in game one (12-10), the Soaring Eagles surrendered a three-run first inning followed by a four-run fifth inning as Alfred took game one 10-9. With Elmira leading 9-8 headed to the bottom of the sixth, the Saxons went on to score a pair of runs after a leadoff walk, and a double brought home the tying run. From there, a one-out wild pitch allowed the Saxons to send its 10th run of the game across the plate and worked around a leadoff walk in the seventh before closing the door.
In game two, Alfred would score four runs in the bottom of the first inning where they recorded three hits and used a Soaring Eagle error. Three of the four runs were scored with two outs. Elmira scored all its runs in the top of the seventh inning before Bennett recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded to secure the 6-4 win for the Saxons.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Soaring Eagles were quick to break into the scoring column in game one as Madison Brown-Bloom '23 reached on a two-out error which brought home Wilcox for the first run of the game. From there, the Saxons would answer back with three in the bottom of the first against EC starting pitcher Ally Barr '21. After Ashley Lugo was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning, Mya Wells homered to leftfield on the second Saxon at-bat of the afternoon to take the lead, 2-1. From there, an RBI groundout from Raygan Wescott put the home squad ahead 3-1 in the early going.
The offense picked back up in the third inning as the Soaring Eagles went on to score three and regain the lead at 4-3. In the inning, Wilcox and Kaitlyn Belmont '24, and Amelia Martin '24 all singled to begin the frame, loading the bases before Brown-Bloom and Cortez singled home runs as part of a five-hit string to begin the third inning. Cortez drove home two before Elmira was set down with the bases loaded.
Alfred knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the third after Meghan Neto drove in a run with one away.
The Saxons would break the tie after plating four runs in the fifth inning on five hits, retaking the lead at 8-4. The Soaring Eagles would not go down quietly as they answered right back in the top of the sixth inning with five runs as Belmont, Brown-Bloom, and Katie Distefano '24 all singled home runs to retake the lead at 9-8.
Barr's day came to a close after 5.0 innings where she allowed nine runs (all earned) on nine hits, while walking one and striking out two. After allowing a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, Barr was lifted as Cortez would come on in relief. The Saxons scored a pair in the inning before shutting the door in the top of the seventh on their way to a 10-9 victory. Cortez would receive the loss on record as she allowed one run on one hit while walking a batter in the sixth.
In game two, Alfred used a four-run first inning to jump out to an early lead in which they recorded three hits and scored three unearned runs as part to a Soaring Eagle defensive error. After Alfred scored another run in the fourth to increase its lead to 5-0, Elmira starting pitcher Cortez was replaced by Barr. Cortez finished her afternoon allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits, while walking four and striking out three.
Barr would allow a fifth-inning run after Isabella Orozco singled home a run to increase the Saxon lead to 6-0. Elmira would fight back in the top of the seventh looking to make a comeback but fell just short after plating four runs. In the inning, Cortez and Distefano led off with doubles to begin the frame, trading places on the bases. From there, the Soaring Eagles would put together a two-out rally, scoring three more runs as Felicity Brockhuizen '22 singled home a run, followed up by an error with Belmont at the dish which brought home another. Martin capped the scoring for Elmira with an RBI single before Bennett was able to finish off the save.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the field on Monday as they take on Keuka at the Holding Point Recreation Complex. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM as Elmira honors Alex Brockhuizen '22, Felicity Brockhuizen '22, Alexis Dinga '22, and Ally Barr '21 on Senior Day.
