CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team split its afternoon with the Gators from Russell Sage College on Thursday evening, taking game two of the twinbill in a 14-13 slugfest. After the Gators took game one (E8 Conference Contest), the Soaring Eagles came out on top in the non-conference tilt, using 13 hits including home runs from Jill Cortez '23, Amelia Martin '23, and Arian Wilcox '25 in the extra-inning victory. 

Martin secured the victory for the Soaring Eagles with a two-run home run in the eighth inning to put EC ahead by a pair. 

GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 4, Russell Sage 8 (Game One)
               Elmira 14, Sage 13 (Game Two, FINAL/8)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (11-14, 3-9 E8), SUNY Poly (12-18, 5-5 E8)
LOCATION: Clifton Park, New York | Clifton Commons
W|L|S:  Taylor DiCranian (7-5) | MaryAnn Sobel (4-5) | None (Game One)
             MaryAnn Sobel (5-5) | Mikayla Lindsey (4-5) | None (Game Two)

KEY MOMENT:
The Gators used a three-run first inning in the opener, using three hits and a Soaring Eagle error to their advantage on their way to an 8-4 victory. 

In game two, the Soaring Eagles used 13 hits and scored the game-winning run in extra innings as Martin belted a two-run home run to give Elmira the cushion room needed in a 14-13 victory. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Sage got to work early in game one, plating three runs in the first inning against Elmira starting pitcher MaryAnn Sobel. In the inning, the Gators scored its runs on a pair of doubles, while using an RBI groundout to take a 3-0 lead. 

In the fourth, the Soaring Eagles cracked the scoreboard and took the lead for the first time after scoring four runs on four hits with one out. After a leadoff double from Kaitlyn Belmont '24,  Madison Brown-Bloom '23 brought home Belmont on an RBI single which scored Elmira's first run. From there, Cortez would single before DeAmelia hit a three-run home run to push the Soaring Eagles in front 4-3. 

From there, the Gators scored three runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth inning to retake its lead, 6-4. Sobel's day came to an end after 4.2 innings in the circle where she allowed six runs (three earned) on ten hits, while walking three and striking out two. 

The Gators would hold the Purple & Gold scoreless the remainder of the way, while scoring runs in the 5th and 6th innings against Cortez, who finished the game with 1.1 innings pitched. Cortez recorded strikeouts on each of her four outs. 

In game two, the Soaring Eagles would go on to win a 14-13 offensive shootout while recording 13 hits. After jumping out to an 8-0 lead, the Soaring Eagles would surrender 10 runs in the second and third innings as Sage retook the lead. 

In the first inning, the Soaring Eagles got off to a quick start and some cushion for Cortez, scoring five runs on four hits. After Wilcox led off the contest with a solo home run, the Purple & Gold would send 12 to the plate over the duration of the inning. The Soaring Eagles increased its lead to 3-0 after Cortez hit a two-run home run, scoring Brown-Bloom who doubled in the previous at-bat. Elmira would score a run on a wild pitch to take a 4-0 lead before Wilcox recorded her second run batted in on the inning after drawing a bases loaded walk. 

In the second, Elmira would increase its lead to eight runs after RBI singles from Tiante Murray '25 and Felicity Brockhuizen '22. Wilcox would record her third RBI of the contest after drawing another bases loaded walk, pushing the EC lead to 8-0. 

Over the next two innings, the Gators would score eight runs against Cortez, who was lifted after 2.0 innings in the circle. Sobel would come on in relief, allowing a pair of runs in the third inning which pushed Sage ahead 10-8.

From there, the Soaring Eagles would cut its deficit to 10-9 after an RBI single from Martin in the fourth inning. Elmira would tie the game in the 6th inning after Belmont doubled home Brockhuizen, who reached base earlier in the inning via a Sage error. The Gators would take an 11-10 lead in the bottom of the sixth after scoring on a fielder's choice. 

In the seventh, Sobel and DeAmelia walked to open the frame before a costly Sage error allowed for Sobel to score the game-tying run. Elmira would take a 12-11 lead on a one-out RBI single from Brockhuizen. In the bottom half of the inning, the first two Gators reached base safely after a pair of Soaring Eagle errors. From there, an RBI double tied the game once again. 

After going to extra innings, Martin gave Elmira a two-run lead after belting a home run which put the Soaring Eagles ahead 14-12. After Sage scored a run in the bottom of the inning, Sobel sat down the final two batters of the contest to clinch the victory for EC. 

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the field on Friday for its final home games of the season as they take on the Highlanders from Houghton College at the Holding Point. First pitch in game one is set for 3:30 PM.