HORSEHEADS, N.Y. – The Elmira College Softball team picked up its first "home" win of the season in its first attempt, defeating the Gators from Sage College 6-0 on Saturday afternoon. Originally scheduled to be played at Sage, Elmira hosted the contest while the Gators served as the home team.

MaryAnn Sobel '25 picked up her second win of the season, throwing a shutout performance over five innings of work while allowing just four hits. Katie Distefano '24 had a pair of RBIs on the day while Madison Brown-Bloom '23 hit the first home run at Elmira's new home field, the Holding Point Recreation Complex.

GAME INFORMATION:
SCORE: Elmira 6, Saget 0 (F/5)
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (6-7, 1-2 E8), Sage (6-12, 1-2 E8)
LOCATION: Horseheads, New York | Holding Point Recreation Complex
W|L|S:  MaryAnn Sobel '25 (2-2) | Makayla Lindsey (1-4) | None

KEY MOMENT:
The Soaring Eagles took advantage of a costly two-out error from the Gators in the top half of the first inning which allowed Elmira to plate four runs and jump out to an early lead. 

In the 5th, Brown-Bloom homered to centerfield which capped the scoring on the afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Elmira was able to put a pair of runners on base with two outs in the first inning before Jillian Cortez '23 grounded a ball to third base which wasn't thrown successfully across the field, allowing Kaitlyn Belmont '24 to score the games' opening run. From there, Bella DeAmelia '24 and Distefano would drive in a trio of runs combined which capped the inning with the Soaring Eagles ahead 4-0. Sage starting pitcher Makayla Lindsay would be tabbed with no earned runs during the frame. 

Sobel would go on to scatter a few hits but was able to work out of trouble on a few occasions. Phenomenal plays by third basemen Alex Brockhuizen '22 helped aid Sobel, while a key double play that featured Belmont in the third inning ended a mid-game threat from Sage. 

From there, Alexis Dinga '22 would drive home Brown-Bloom in the third before Brown-Bloom lifted a home run to centerfield to cap the scoring, 6-0. 

The game was called after a few separate weather delays, forcing game two to be made up at a later date.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles are scheduled to return to the field tomorrow afternoon as they will once again serve as the away team while hosting Utica. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM at the Holding Point Recreation Complex.