HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team picked up a pair of shutout wins in its final Empire 8 Conference series of the season, defeating the visiting Highlanders from Houghton College 10-0 and 4-0 at the Holding Point Recreation Complex on Friday evening. 

The Soaring Eagles picked up a pair of shutouts on the same day for the first time since defeating Clarks Summit on March 28, 2019. 

Katie Distefano '24 paced the Soaring Eagles with four hits on the afternoon, while Madison Brown-Bloom '23 and Bella DeAmelia '24 each hit home runs. The pairing of Ally Barr '21 and MaryAnn Sobel '25 combined to throw 12.0 innings, allowing just six hits and recording 12 strikeouts and zero walks.

GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 10, Houghton 0 (Game One, FINAL/5)
               Elmira 4, Houghton 0 (Game Two)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (13-14, 5-9 E8), Houghton (20-17, 6-8 E8)
LOCATION: Horseheads, New York | Holding Point Recreation Complex
W|L|S:  MaryAnn Sobel (6-4) | Kayla Loomis (12-13) | None (Game One)
             Ally Barr (5-4) | Jen Burrows (5-3) | None (Game Two)

KEY MOMENT:
In game one, the score remained tied at 0-0 through the first two and a half innings of play before the Soaring Eagles put together a massive bottom of the third. In the frame, the Purple & Gold would plate eight runs on nine hits while sending 13 to the plate. In the inning, DeAmelia and Brown-Bloom would each hit home runs to center field. It was Elmira's largest scoring inning on the season to date. 

In game two, the Soaring Eagles scored the game-winning run just two batters into the game as Kaitlyn Belmont '24 doubled home Arian Wilcox '25, who doubled on the very first pitch of the game to center field. The run would be the first of two scored in the inning in Elmira's 4-0 win over the Highlanders. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a scoreless two and a half innings in game one, the Soaring Eagles exploded for an eight run third inning, using nine hits while sending thirteen batters to the plate. Each of the first ten Soaring Eagles that came to the plate in the inning reached base safely, while DeAmelia (two-run) and Brown-Bloom (three-run) each hit home runs in the inning. Additionally, Amelia Martin '23 and Wilcox recorded multi-RBI innings for the Soaring Eagles. 

Leading 8-0, Sobel was able to cruise on the mound, facing the minimum number of batters through 3.1 innings pitched. The Soaring Eagles would cap the scoring in the fourth inning after Alex Brochuizen brought home a pair of runners (one RBI) following a single to right field while DeAmelia scored on a fielding error. 

The game would conclude after five innings due to the run rule, while Sobel completed the game allowing just two hits while striking out seven Highlanders.  

In game two, the Soaring Eagles scored the game-winning run just two batters into the game as Kaitlyn Belmont '24 doubled home Arian Wilcox '25, who doubled on the very first pitch of the game to center field. The run would be the first of two scored in the inning in Elmira's 4-0 win over the Highlanders. 

Elmira would score in the 5th inning after Jill Cortez '23 and Alex Brockhuizen each brought home runs on base hits. 

Ally Barr '21 would go the distance in the circle, allowing just four hits while striking out five, as the Soaring Eagle pitching staff didn't allow a walk on the afternoon.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will take the field on Sunday as they play Nazareth in a non-conference doubleheader in Pittsford, New York. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.